The Billionaire's Heiress: Secret Affairs

Copyright © 2021 MXian

Scenes, dialogues, places, events, and characters in this book are all invented or are used fictitiously.

This story contains mature themes, some violence, profanity, and sexual content not intended for young readers.

Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this story or plagiarism of any kind is prohibited by the law.

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Note: This is written in multiple 1st person POVs.

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P R E V I E W

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"You wanna leave?" I stared at him as he sat on the edge of the bed, his face buried in his palms. The hopeful side of my brain anticipated a denial, but the more sensible part of me knew he believed what happened between us was a huge mistake.

"I should."

He should? Did I ever tell him he shouldn't be here?

That's all he said while he sat on my bed, hunched over, sighing about something that seemed to be bothering him a great deal. His voice sounded gruff and full of regret.

It hurt more than the thought of him thinking I'm the type of girl who prefers one-night stands. It actually hurt. Actual physical pain. I couldn't even breathe properly anymore; my throat and chest ached and felt too tight for air to pass through.

"So you're leaving now."

"I gotta go. I'm on night shift." He got up from the bed and put on his wrinkled shirt.

"Okay," I murmured while holding back tears he obviously didn't wanna see.

The jerk wouldn't even look at my face now.

As my insides coiled, I grabbed my robe to cover myself up. The moment I shut the bathroom door behind me, the tears just streamed down my cheeks. Shit. Everything hurt.

While my eyes and chest ached, I bit on my lip and muffled my sobs with my palm.

It's not like I could say anything to stop him. He wanted to leave now. Meaning, he didn't want this. At all. He didn't want a relationship. He didn't want me.

Just another girl he met...

It's all clear now: I was nothing to him.

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END of PREVIEW

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Chapter 1

- EILYN -

Traffic.

What a waste of time...

These days, I had to deal with traffic everywhere I went. And crowds. Just flocks and flocks of strangers rushing in every direction. Going about their daily lives.

Granted my affinity for privacy and solitude, being stuck with strangers almost always got on my nerve, which was why I chose to leave this dirty city and live my own life in another country.

Every single day in this place, traffic followed you wherever, whenever. Even here in the country's biggest airport. Now I had to waste my entire morning dealing with air traffic, too.

"First time for everything, Ei," I murmured with a sigh. My butt and legs just felt dead. Painfully numb like my brain now. For hours, I'd been sitting in this claustrophobic corner, just waiting to get out. If my pancake butt had eyes, the thick cushion would've been drenched in tears by now.

First time a Seoul-Manila flight took almost five hours! "There's still traffic in the air. Kindly sit tight until the weather clears up," the pilot announced earlier.

Luckily for me I was the only one on this flight who could afford a VIP seat. At least I had some semblance of privacy.

The plane was stuck in the corner of the runway. Heavy rainfall tapped against the windows while my arms and face felt close to freezing.

Why today? Of all days!

Our private jet couldn't fetch me since my uncles were using it, probably closing another big deal. I would've asked my dad to buy a brand new plane, but he's too busy at the moment.

Maybe I'd ask him for a smaller plane for my birthday. Or after my possibly suicidal brother got out of the hospital. "Hang in there, bro." I sighed at my last text to him.

-

Sent to: Kuya J

"Are you out of the OR now?"

Today 08:07AM

-

It's been hours.

Still no replies. Maybe the pain medications knocked him out. But Dad assured me that Kuya Jeihral safely got out of surgery this morning. One good news for today.

It could mean his injuries weren't fatal. Thank God. I'd been praying all night. I hadn't slept yet; now my temperature felt feverish and my joints were starting to ache.

Darn it. It's almost lunch time and we're still stuck in this plane.

"Ugh! I don't have all day!" I wanted to shout at the skies for this dreary weather, but the cabin crew might think I'm being such a Karen.

"Patience goes a long way, Eilyn," my dad used to say to me whenever I behaved like a drama queen. That was years ago, though, and I liked to think living on my own in another country had changed me for the better. "If your mom's too busy to be here, fine. Just be here tomorrow. Go see your brother," Daddy Eugene requested last night over the phone.

Of course I couldn't say no. Thinking about Kuya Jeihral and the culprits behind his unfortunate situation now just made my blood boil with frustration. Although I didn't want to see my only sibling all weak and injured, it's not like I had a choice.

"Tan's guys kidnapped Ken, so we had to find the idiot. The cops wouldn't do shit 'cause it hasn't been 24 hours yet," my cousin Daniel explained hours ago.

To relieve the numbness in my backside, I got up and walked around the first class section. The other seats remained empty as I waited for the ringing to end. "Pick up, D."

Four rings.

Five rings.

Eight...

Nine...

-

Surely my dad didn't have the time to pick me up today. He couldn't even text me back. Like my brother and Daniel.

Where the heck's Daniel? I called him again but he totally forgot about me. Were they stuck in another board meeting?

I flumped back down in my seat. Some nervousness still bothered my peace of mind, and I wasn't sure when my brother would be sent home.

"J's out of surgery." It was Daniel's last text before he stopped answering my messages and calls.

Bored to tears, I let my thoughts roam again. I had time to waste. This flight's taking forever.

More importantly, I didn't expect to hear that my own brother got shot by Tan's criminals and got knocked unconscious by a freakin' bomb explosion.

Shit. It's all Kenji's fault.

We're all used to hearing about Kenji getting in trouble but not to the extent of almost getting my brother killed. His own cousin. The heck...

Really, I thought Kenji's the only one we should worry about after he got kidnapped by that ruthless drug lord, Armond Tan. That guy deserved a death sentence. Multiple sentences, the better.

But Tan had enough dirty money to bribe lots of people in this city.

Sighing loudly, I raked my cold fingers through my messy hair. I probably looked like I just got out of bed, but, whatever. My patience was running out. I just wanted to go home.

If I took a cab and my dad found out, he would definitely pitch a dozen fits, then lecture me about "necessary security protocols" all day. Like the last time.

I understood his paranoia, though. After what Luke (my spoiled and insane ex) did to me when I tried university life here in Manila, my father often worried about my safety.

I closed my eyes and reclined again. My feverish temperature had already conjured up a migraine plus body pains. Then my phone buzzed.

A new text from my dad.

-

New message

From: Appa Bear

"J's stable. Transferred to a private room. Daniel can't pick u up. Sec guys waiting for u outside."

Today 10:47 AM

-

"Thanks for being very specific as always, Dad." I sighed before sending a reply.

Maybe he's too busy with something again. Like an emergency board meeting, or something else that needed his undivided attention.

"Fine. Cab, it is." I stretched my aching back while trying to ignore the incessant pounding in my jet lagged head.

Five hours. It had been five hours of traveling and waiting. I just wanted it to end. My feet were already itching to get off this plane.

Before I could mumble an expletive, the pilot's voice spoke through the speakers again. "This is Captain Velasco speaking again. We have received instructions to proceed and deplane. We sincerely apologize for the long wait. Thank you for bearing with us and we hope you'll enjoy the sights Manila has to offer."

-

"Black Trailblazer with customized plates." Daniel said I should look out for the vehicle. Just one. Not a convoy.

Well, I wasn't a filthy rich politician. Or a big-timer like my Daddy Eugene.

"Go see J. I'll drop by later," Daniel mumbled on the other line.

With my handbag, I walked out of the arrival area wearing a face mask. Crowds of passengers wheeled their luggage out of the airport, rushing to get out like me. I stopped near the exit. I looked for someone holding a placard with my name.

Not a single soul. "How many guys?" I asked. Perhaps I could just stroll out of here like everybody else. My mask hid my face enough.

"Three." Daniel yawned. "Told them to drive you home after. J was asleep when I left. Later. I'm beat."

"Fine. See ya." I hung up. I couldn't wait to see my brother. Fortunately he's recovering well in post-op, at least according to Daniel. Collien would visit my brother after work hours.

As the crowds dispersed around the arrival area, I sighed and waited beside my suitcase. I shouldn't even be here. I should be in Brussels, completing my newest collection for finals.

It's all Kenji's fault. "As usual..." I murmured.

We were never close. Growing up, he treated Kuya Jeihral like a big brother. They hung out more often than I did with my brother. But Kenji never really outgrew his "teenage rebel" phase.

Last I heard, he went to rehab again, perhaps his last attempt at cleaning up his act for his family's sake. Then the incident happened. And now my brother's stuck in the hospital, probably enduring a brain injury that could damage his health permanently.

Infuriating, to say the least.

-

New message

From: SD21B

"Maam Ei. B here. 1D 2B. Black Tblzr rims."

Received 10:49

"Fantastic." I scoffed. No black Trailblazer anywhere. As I stood alongside other passengers, the sky dimmed.

The cool wind tousled my hair. My fever's already giving me chills and my body felt drained. But like everyone else, I had to wait.

Then I got a call from Beck, the only female member of our security detail. "Hi, B. Can you hurry up, please?"

"Copy, Ma'am."

"Bay 10. Pink long sleeves, B."

"Copy. Stand by." She hung up.

I glanced around. The clouds darkened before rain suddenly poured.

Ugh. Great. I tried texting my dad again. Then a shadow and dark combat boots parked in front of my flats.

A security guard? Cop?

When I looked up, a wavy-haired guy with dark eyes stared at me, smirking. He didn't look like a cop or airport security personnel. My nose barely reached his bearded jaw. He reeked of cigarettes. He took a drag before flinging the cig onto the ground to stomp on it.

My blood pressure spiked. "Can't you read? There's DON'T LITTER signs everywhere."

"Axell." He held out his palm, as if telling me to shake his hand.

I frowned, just at a loss. His features reminded me of someone I'd rather not think of right now. "Sorry? Who are you?"

"X." Bearded Guy grinned at me, his dark lashes partly concealing his brown eyes. "Your new escort."

- EILYN -

Bearded Guy stared with a slanted grin like he found my face amusing or something.

What's his deal? I frowned and backed away. Amid my hesitation, Beck interrupted us and pulled the weirdo away from me.

"Sorry, Maam. Rookie in training here." Beck glared at the dark-haired guy before murmuring something about protocols.

"Nice to meet you," I mumbled despite my confusion.

"This is X." Beck feigned a smile. Beside her, "Rookie in Training" studied my face like I was a Renaissance sculpture or something. "He's Romer's replacement," Beck added.

"Why? Where's Kuya Romer?" My hand clasped my bag straps. Did something happen to my bodyguard?

"Retired. Let's go?"

"Retired?" I frowned. "He's not even 50."

"Health reasons," Beck said.

"Oh." I stood still and watched as she told the new guy to "keep his eyes peeled". The slight paranoia in Beck's muted voice bothered me, but perhaps it's just my overworked brain.

"No other luggage?" Beck asked as I tried to ignore the guy.

"Yeah."

"Tick-tock." The guy had his back to us now, his jaw-length hair as black as his leather jacket. "Driver's waiting," he muttered while surveying the surroundings.

British accent? The foreigners I often encountered in this city were mostly Chinese, Korean, or American. Should I just call him "X"? It was his codename. Beck said he's my bodyguard now.

"Ma'am, let's go?"

"Yeah," I replied while the new guy held the umbrella.

He stayed close to me as we left the arrival area. When we reached the Trailblazer (most likely bulletproof all over), X opened the door for me.

"Thanks," I muttered before stepping into the backseat.

"Sure." He grinned and stared at me.

Did I look familiar? Funny thing was, I thought he looked familiar. In some angles, he looked like my ex. A rugged, less somber version of the guy, dare I say.

Or maybe the lack of proper rest was already messing with my eyesight. My muscles ached, too. Definitely a flu now. Ugh! I never liked getting sick.

Beck sat in the front seat beside the driver, Karlo, my brother's driver and a longtime employee of ours. Then Beck spoke again. "Leaving now with H. En route to the hospital."

"H?" I mumbled.

Was she talking to Dad?

"Your new code," replied my seatmate and new bodyguard. X shut the door which automatically locked itself. "Short for 'heiress'."

"Oh." I sat back.

His foreign accent sounded more obvious when he said "code" and "short".

Where did he come from? How did he end up here in Manila?

-

The drive was quiet as rainfall darkened the skies and the busy roads. The A/C unit stayed on low but my chills only worsened. Darned fever.

"Need to buy some meds, B." I coughed and hugged myself, pressing my palm onto my face mask. Ugh. Stuck in traffic again...

The weather was partly to blame. Now my skull felt like a chainsaw was splitting it open. I couldn't even keep my eyes open for five seconds.

"What meds?" Beck stared at her phone, probably looking for the nearest drug store.

"For flu. And cough syrup. Plus nasal decongestant."

"How many, Ma'am?"

"Ten each, B." I covered my throbbing head with my hoodie. "And stop calling me 'Ma'am'. I feel so old now," I murmured. Or maybe she was just showing the new guy that I was the most important person in the vehicle.

"Copy." Beck pointed to a commercial building to our right. "There's one in the corner."

"And buy me some water, please."

"Want me to go get 'em?" asked the guy beside me.

"What?" I coughed onto the thick fabric of my mask. My vision wasn't spinning yet, but now my attention span's no longer than a goldfish's.

"I'll go get the meds," was his casual reply. "Need the loo anyway."

Loo. A real Brit. Most likely he didn't speak a single Tagalog word.

"You kidding? Fifth time today. Geez." Beck gave X a stink-eye. "Buy some Imodium while you're at it."

"Were you actually counting?" He laughed. Nice teeth showed. His grin narrowed his long-lashed eyes and showed some dimples, somewhat curbing his "Mr. Mysterious" appeal.

The driver just pulled over outside a pharmacy. Then X opened the door.

"Take the umbrella." I handed him some money. It wasn't pouring anymore but the rain didn't stop yet.

"Copy, H." With my money in his fist, X grinned before stepping out.

I winced at the noise after he shut the door. "Who hired him to replace Romer?" I asked. Daddy Gene wouldn't just replace my most trusted personal security staff without telling me a thing.

"Sir Daniel," Beck muttered before clearing her throat. "Just the other day."

"What's his background?"

"28, college dropout, no regular employment records. Into martial arts. Not quite a marksman but passable. Moved here four years ago. Worked for a private business group." Beck paused. "Can be cocky and annoying, but the guy can back it up. So far."

"Daniel knows him well?" I watched "X" from afar as he walked straight into the pharmacy. I wasn't used to new bodyguards. I didn't even know the new guy's last name. If only they could clone Kuya Romer...that'd be fantastic.

"I doubt it," Beck muttered. "But the guy needs the steady income, he says. Seems generally harmless. Didn't give him a gun yet."

No deadly weapon on him yet. Whew. Stranger danger fear gradually decreasing...

If the guy needed money and really wanted to keep this new job, he'd better think thrice before doing anything stupid. My billionaire dad would skin him alive if I didn't come home today unscathed and in one piece.

"Axell's his real name?" As I watched X, he leaned over the counter while talking to the pharmacy assistant.

Then he goofily waved at us when the assistant left the counter.

I almost smiled.

"Seems like," Beck sighed. "We're taking you to the hospital now. Already two hours behind schedule. This shitty weather's not helping."

"Yeah. Okay. Don't hand him a gun yet."

- JEIHRAL -

[ 4 months earlier ]

The place looked empty. Were the kids here? In one of their hotel rooms?

"Shit." I stifled a sigh and scanned the spacious lobby, ignoring the nervousness that was slowly turning into anxiety by the minute.

It's an expensive hotel, quite exclusive and too far from the house. Why would Shin bring the kids here?

She wasn't one to splurge on anything for herself or the kids. She didn't even like buying new clothes for her wardrobe.

I approached the front desk, with not a clue as to why she took the kids here or why she had to meet up with Kenji in this area.

Whoever the owner of this hotel was, pretty sure they knew my deadbeat cousin one way or another.

Well, it could even be Tan himself, that drug-dealing psycho. If he turned up today, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. Which was why I brought a loaded gun today just in case.

These days, drug lords often ran legitimate businesses on the side, for multiple reasons. It wouldn't be a shock if Tan and his high-ranking "public servant" cousin tried out being hoteliers now, too. Well, with all that dirty money they'd been raking in...

"Any reply?" I turned to glance at Rex, my bodyguard and the head of my security detail. The rest waited in the vehicle parked outside the lobby.

As much as I wanted to get the kids out of here as fast as we could, we first should make sure they were actually here, but without drawing too much attention. The last thing we wanted: Kenji or his drug-dealing friends thinking we came here for the kids with violence in mind.

"Restaurant. Third floor," replied Rex, who was trying his best to conceal his weapon that stayed tucked underneath his dark jacket. He was bald and tall, like Kenji, but Rex had much more common sense and no drug addiction problems.

Much easier to keep around. "Any signs of the guy?" I muttered as we stepped closer to the receptionists.

"Negative." Rex cleared his throat and kept his attention on his phone screen.

"Good afternoon, Sir," the brown-haired receptionist greeted.

"Afternoon." I feigned a smile for the hotel staff. "Where's your restaurant?"

-

New message

From: Daniel

"Which hotel? Omw."

Received 01:03PM

-

I replied to Daniel's text before glancing around the hotel's restaurant.

Not many hotel guests or customers. Barely half of the tables looked busy. In the corner, a long table was occupied by two kids and two adults.

Definitely Kenji and Shin. Miyuki and Akira looked busy with their ice cream, but their parents didn't look preoccupied by their late lunch. In fact the former husband and wife seemed pretty serious with whatever it was they were discussing in front of their kids. Or maybe they were trying to keep it to themselves.

I kept my eyes on the family of four, with Rex sitting close to me as we watched the scene several tables away.

Wearing braided pigtails, Miyuki had her back to us while she sat next to her older brother, Akira. In front of them, Shin sat still beside Kenji with a deep scowl compressing her lips and scrunching up her

dark brows.

The bodyguard was standing a few steps behind them and practically staring at us, as if to say he did his job to the best of his ability.

Well, if the family only went here to have a quick, fun lunch, then fine. But we all knew that wasn't the case. My gut told me this was enemy territory, and we came a little unprepared.

"What now, boss?" Rex mumbled beside me. He sat with one elbow on the table while pretending to enjoy his coffee.

I knew his other hand under the table was ready to pull out his handgun, but I went along with his pretense. I even ordered a slice of blueberry cheesecake. Collien might be in the mood for some cake tonight.

Then Kenji leaned in and seemed to be whispering to Shin's ear. After several seconds, she smiled briefly while Kenji chuckled and held her hand.

I squinted at the scene.

What's happening? Just months ago, Ayashi was dying to talk to her lawyers about filing for annulment, and now this? What did Kenji say? Was he lying and manipulating her again?

"Wait. Make sure no one else's watching them," I muttered to Rex as we kept still in our seats, closely watching the couple and the kids.

Before the smile on Shin's pale face faded, some guy in a button-down shirt approached their table with a lopsided grin and a cellphone in his hand.

"Shit." I got up and quit pretending to be a stranger in the background. I stared at the familiar guy, just to be sure. "It's him."

-

The ex-convict and well-known drug kingpin Kenji had for a boss promptly invited me to take a seat the second he saw me.

"Mr. Jeihral Han. What a surprise." Armond Tan faked a smile as I approached the table while Shin and the kids stared at me. The asshole even wore office clothes today.

The irony. As if he ever spent a day in a real office doing real work... As far as I knew, he and his family only liked to make easy money. Drugs, gambling, dirty politics, et cetera... Their family of crooks was well-versed in those.

I ignored the guy's greeting and regarded Kenji and Shin. "Take them downstairs," I instructed. We had to get the children out of here.

When Kenji only frowned, I stared at Shin. "Bring the kids downstairs now."

"Chill out, Mr. Chairman. We were just having lunch," Armond drawled with a smirk. The guy watched Akira when he got up from his seat to grab his little sister's hand, as if sensing impending danger.

"Aki, go with your mom. Take your sister downstairs."

"And you, Tito?"

"Be there in five." I glanced at my nephew, who now looked confused and slightly scared. "Stay in the car."

"Okay," Akira replied with his head down.

Kenji budged in his seat. "I'll be the one to decide when they'll leave."

"Shut it, Ken." I turned to him while trying my hardest not to scowl or attract unwanted attention from the strangers around us. "Take the kids downstairs."

A tension-filled silence stretched when Kenji just kept glaring.

"Did I stutter?" I glared back at him.

Eventually he yielded to my command. Kenji turned to Ayashi before he led the kids away from the table.

"D's in the lobby," I told her before they left with the bodyguard.

Rex stayed standing beside me. Then I faced the grinning drug lord still sitting at the other side of the dining table.

Who knew what the scumbag hid up in his sleeve? Better safe than sorry.

"Tito J, we gonna check out the big swimming poow, and Mommy and Daddy!" Miyuki glanced at me as they strolled out of the restaurant with her brother. Her tense-looking parents kept looking at us before they reached the elevator.

"Good. Don't run off," I replied to the oblivious kid. I still didn't trust Kenji to do the right thing, but I almost breathed a big sigh of relief when they finally stepped into the elevator.

I didn't want to be alone in unfamiliar territory but being stuck in here with the kids wasn't any better. I just wanted to get this over with. Once and for all, I'd face this bully and certified thief, who could be heavily armed compared to the meager Glock 17 that was painfully strapped onto my ankle.

"Didn't think you'd show up." Armond casually leaned back in his seat and eyed me, the guy's pleasant expression as fraudulent as his assets and bank accounts. "Glass of beer? Fancy some wine?"

"Cut the shit. What do you want?" I maintained my poker face and stood close to the table.

For a while, Armond only smirked at my response.

If only the restaurant didn't have customers today, I would've pulled my gun out to cock it in the guy's face. But civilians were still around. For now, I'd keep my cool.

Why this nutjob orchestrated this meetup, I didn't really care...but maybe he thought today had to happen. "How's life?" Armond stretched his arms and forced another smile.

I squinted at the asshole. The question sounded like years-old disdain again. My fist clenched, just itching to punch the smugness off of his ugly face. "How's prison?"

"Educational." Armond grinned, seeming pleased by the scornful question. The guy chuckled after glancing around us. "Have a seat," he then mumbled with a nod.

Unwilling but curious enough, I hastily pulled the chair. Then I was eye-to-eye with the guy I'd been dreaming of strangling with my bare hands, for years now. "Make it quick; I got somewhere to be."

"Fine," Armond sighed as he fixed his collar. Then we played the stare-down game again. He got quiet for a while. "I need to transfer some accounts to your bank."

"Transfer?" Upon realizing what that meant, I almost laughed at the proposition. "You're funny."

"Let's make it an extra sweet exchange." The guy smirked.

Was he seriously trying to cut a deal? Just hilarious. "Do I look like I'd want any more problems with the law?"

"Your fees will be incremental and generous; in return, I'm gonna need some cooperation and resources from your end."

I scoffed. "You thought I'd even consider making deals with your kind?" I frowned. "Go find another accomplice."

"Half a million dollars, prime properties, and privileged information," Armond muttered before I could get up and leave. The criminal actually wanted to hammer out a deal today.

"No thanks." I stayed seated, but I wanted to laugh out loud now. How desperate was this greedy idiot?

"Coward." Armond smirked again and glanced to my bodyguard.

"I got better things to do. Try anything fishy, and I might resort to more uncivilized measures this time." I glanced to where Shin and the kids had disappeared to. "Quit bothering my cousin and his family. Then I'll let you enjoy this freedom you have for now."

"You see me holding a gun to their heads, Mr. Chairman?" The asshole shrugged. "Maybe she badly wanted to see Ken. Y'know, maybe she's had a change of heart."

"Did I ask for your opinion?"

"Just stating the obvious."

I faked a grin. "Leave them alone. I don't like repeating myself."

Well, the kids seemed to be enjoying their dad's company, so I let Kenji go with them. Besides, Daniel was already in the lobby according to his latest text. The bodyguards knew what to do in case Kenji tried something stupid. Wouldn't be the first time.

"Alright," Armond conceded with a sigh. "But I need this deal to happen. Soon."

"If only I could give two shits about your financial problems and whatnot." I tsk-ed. "Leave them alone, or I'll have legal throw you back in prison with another bunch of charges."

"Fine," Armond Tan said through gritted teeth, leaning in dangerously close that I could smell the guy's foul cigarette breath. "A million dollars."

"Good luck with that." Shaking my head, I stood up and glanced around to make sure no one overheard the conversation. "And get your filthy money away from me."