Eliana

It had been exactly seven days.

Seven days since I dragged my bleeding, broken body out of Miguel’s mansion and into the freezing rain. Seven days since my entire reality shattered.

And seven days since Rekho, the most powerful billionaire, looked at the birthmark on my neck and realized I was the daughter he had been mourning for twenty-five years.

My wounds from the kidney surgery were finally healing, I looked at my reflection and barely recognized the woman staring back.

Martha, the head maid, had brought in a team of elite Parisian stylists. I was wearing a custom-made, midnight-black gown.

A soft knock echoed through the room.

"Come in.”

Over the past week, I had learned everything about the man standing before me. Craig wasn't Rekho’s biological son; he had been adopted from an orphanage in London when he was ten. But he didn't coast on the Rekho name. Craig had built his own massive empire from the ground up.

"The cars are downstairs," Craig said.

"Rekho is waiting in the main foyer. He wants to make sure the press is completely"

Craig stopped.

He froze mid-sentence, his hand still resting on the brass doorknob. His grey eyes slowly dragged up the length of my body, tracing the slit of my dress, lingering on the curve of my waist, before finally locking onto my face.

Then, just as quickly, the heavy iron mask slammed back into place.

"You look..." Craig cleared his throat softly, looking away toward the window. "You look presentable, Eliana. Let's go."

"Thank you, Craig," I whispered, hiding the sudden rush of heat in my cheeks.

Tonight was the annual Rekho Global Summit, an exclusive gala where the elite of the elite gathered to grovel for investments.

When we stepped into the massive, gold-gilded ballroom, the sheer scale of the wealth was suffocating. Thousands of crystal chandeliers hung from the painted ceilings. Waiters carried trays of champagne that cost more than a car.

Rekho held my hand tightly, his chest puffed with absolute pride.

"Smile, my darling," Arthur murmured, kissing my cheek. "Tonight, they all bow to you."

"Eliana, I want you to meet Bella," Arthur said, gesturing to a stunning woman in a red dress.

I gasped softly. It was Bella, the A-list Hollywood actress I had adored for years.

"Oh, darling, look at you!" Bella smiled warmly, taking my hands. "Arthur hasn't stopped talking about you all week. You look absolutely devastating."

"Thank you, it's an honor to meet you," I smiled, feeling a genuine spark of happiness.

Through it all, I could feel Craig. Every time I turned my head, those piercing grey eyes were already on me, watching, protecting, consuming.

"I'm going to get a glass of water," I told Rekho gently.

"Take the private corridor to the left, dear," he replied.

I slipped away from the crowd, craving just two minutes of silence.

"What the hell are you doing here, Eliana?"

I froze. My blood ran ice-cold.

I turned around slowly.

Miguel stood there, dressed in a sharp tuxedo. And clinging to his arm like a parasite was Henrietta, dripping in the diamonds that my kidney had effectively paid for.

Of course he was here. Miguel’s company was hemorrhaging money. He was desperate for a contract with the Rekho conglomerate to save his failing margins.

"I asked you a question," Miguel demanded, his dark eyes flashing with arrogance as he stepped closer. "How did you get past security? Are you stalking me?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Miguel," I said, my voice dead calm. The fear I thought I would feel was completely gone. Looking at him now, he just looked small.

"What is the meaning of all this?" Miguel sneered, gesturing aggressively to my custom gown and the diamond necklace resting against my collarbone. "Did you steal those? Are you tricking some old, rich fool into paying your bills now? I knew you were cheap, but this is a new low."

"Miguel, please," Henrietta whined, stepping forward and glaring at me with pure disgust. "She's just trying to cause a scene to ruin our night."

"Why can't you get over the fact that it's over, Eliana?" Miguel scoffed, puffing out his chest to feed his massive ego. "I abandoned you. I divorced you. You were nothing but a spare part for my health. Move on!"

"Seriously," Henrietta chimed in, crossing her arms. "Move on! You are pathetic. Now get out before I have the security throw you out into the street where you belong."

"Is there a problem here?"

Craig stepped out, He looked lethal.

Miguel's face instantly shifted from arrogant to completely terrified. He knew exactly who Craig was. Every businessman in the world was terrified of Craig.

"Mr. Rekho," Miguel stammered, immediately releasing Henrietta's arm. "No, sir. No problem at all. We were just... dealing with a trespasser. This woman has been harassing my fiancé."

Craig kept his eyes locked on me.

"Are you ready, Eliana?" Craig asked softly. "Petrax is walking to the podium."

"Yes," I said, stepping right past Miguel and Henrietta without giving them a second glance.

"Wait, Mr. Rekho, you know this woman?" Miguel asked, utter confusion lacing his voice.

Craig finally turned his head. He looked at Miguel the way a lion looks at a dying rat. "Keep your mouth shut, Miguel. Before I buy your pathetic little company tomorrow morning and liquidate it for sport."

Miguel turned stark pale.

Craig placed a warm hand on my lower back, guiding me back into the main ballroom.

The orchestra stopped playing. The low murmur of the thousands of guests faded into absolute silence as Petrax Rekho stepped up to the gold microphone at the center of the grand stage.

Miguel and Henrietta followed us into the room, standing at the edge of the crowd, watching closely.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Arthur’s booming voice echoed through the massive speakers. "I did not invite you here tonight to discuss mergers or stock margins."

The room held its collective breath.

"Twenty-five years ago, my heart was ripped from my chest when my infant daughter was taken from me," Arthur continued, his voice thick with emotion. Tears shined in his dark eyes. "I spent my life building this empire with empty hands. But a week ago, a miracle walked back into my life."

Rekho looked directly at me. He smiled.

"I want to introduce you all to the sole biological heir of the Rekho Conglomerate," Petrax announced loudly. "My blood. My daughter. Eliana Rekho."

A collective, deafening gasp ripped through the ballroom.

I stepped forward into the blinding spotlight. The camera flashes erupted like a violent thunderstorm. Thousands of eyes stared at me in pure shock and awe.

But I only looked at one person.

Miguel.

He was standing near the ice sculpture. His jaw was entirely unhinged. The crystal champagne glass slipped from his fingers and shattered into a hundred pieces on the marble floor. The color completely drained from his face until he looked like a corpse.

Henrietta looked like she was going to throw up. She grabbed the edge of a table, her knees literally buckling under the weight of the realization.

The plain, broke girl they threw out into the rain was the heir to an empire that could buy their entire bloodline ten times over.

The media rushed forward, shouting questions, thrusting microphones over the velvet ropes. Rekho kept a protective arm around me, smiling for the cameras.

After twenty minutes of the frenzy, Rehko leaned in. "Go catch your breath, darling. I'll handle the vultures."

I nodded and carefully made my way out of the flashing lights, heading toward the private VIP lounge.

"Eliana!"

I stopped.

Miguel was running toward me, pushing through the crowd of elite guests. His tuxedo was slightly rumpled, his hair messy. He looked completely unhinged. Desperate.

"Eliana, wait!" Miguel begged, his chest heaving as he stopped in front of me. "Please, just listen to me."

"Don't speak to me," I said coldly.

"I didn't know!" Miguel pleaded, his voice cracking. He reached out and actually grabbed my bare arm. "You didn't tell me who you were! If I had known, I never would have—"

"You never would have treated me like a spare part?" I laughed bitterly. "You're disgusting, Miguel."

Henrietta finally caught up to him. She stood a few feet away, her face bright red, looking so humiliated she couldn't even make eye contact with me.

"Please, Eliana, we can fix this," Miguel groveled, his fingers tightening on my skin. He stepped closer, trying to lower his voice. Then, he looked past me and saw Craig standing a few feet away, watching us.

Suddenly, the desperate groveling turned into toxic, irrational jealousy.

"Is this what this is?" Miguel hissed, his face twisting in fury. "You threw yourself at another man? You're sleeping with Craig now to get back at me? I'm your husband, Eliana!"

"Take your hand off me," I warned.

"You're coming with me," Miguel demanded, tugging my arm intimately, trying to assert his dominance. "We are going to talk about this"

A massive hand shot out of nowhere and clamped around Miguel's throat.

Craig didn't just push him. He lifted Miguel entirely off his feet and slammed him violently backward into a marble pillar.

"Aah!" Miguel choked, his hands clawing uselessly at Craig’s iron grip.

"I told you to keep your mouth shut," Craig growled, his British accent completely dropping into a dark, feral snarl. His grey eyes were pitch black with pure, unadulterated rage. "If you ever touch her again, if you ever breathe in her direction again, I will tear you apart with my bare hands. Do you understand?"

Miguel nodded frantically, his face turning purple.

Craig dropped him in disgust. Miguel collapsed to the floor, coughing violently while Henrietta rushed over, too terrified to speak.

Craig didn't wait. He grabbed my hand, his grip warm and possessive, and dragged me down the hallway.

"Craig, wait—" I started.

He didn't listen. He pulled me past the security guards, shoved open the heavy oak doors of a private, dimly lit VIP suite, and pulled me inside.

He kicked the door shut and locked it.

Before I could process what was happening, Craig spun me around and pinned me gently but firmly against the wall. His large hands braced on the wood on either side of my head, trapping me completely.

His chest heaved. He was breathing so heavily I could feel the heat radiating off his body.

"Craig," I whispered, my heart hammering wildly against my ribs. "What are you doing?"

"I am losing my mind, Eliana," Craig rasped, leaning his forehead against mine.

His scent—expensive cologne, dark whiskey, and pure danger—wrapped around me completely. My breath hitched as his gaze dropped to my lips.

"I've never felt this way before," Craig confessed, his voice a rough, desperate whisper. He brought one hand up, his long fingers threading into my hair, tracing the sensitive skin of my jaw. "I am a rational man. I control everything. But you... why do you seem to bring out the emotions in me that I didn't even know I had?"

"We just met," I breathed, trembling under his touch.

"I don't care," he stated fiercely. His thumb brushed across my lower lip, sending a massive jolt of electricity straight to my core. "I could barely contain my emotions seeing how he touched you. Seeing him put his filthy hands on what is mine."

"Yours?" I gasped softly.

"Mine," Craig confirmed, his eyes burning into my soul.

He didn't give me a chance to argue.

Craig suddenly leaned down and crashed his lips against mine.

It wasn't gentle. It was completely consuming. It was a kiss fueled by a week of pent-up tension, jealousy, and explosive chemistry. My mind completely blanked. Every coherent thought evaporated as his tongue swept into my mouth, demanding complete surrender.

I let out a soft whimper, my hands instinctively reaching up to fist in his thick, dark hair.

Craig groaned deep in his chest at the sound. He pressed his massive body flush against mine, molding my soft curves against his hard planes. His hands roamed frantically, trailing down my neck, over my collarbone, gripping my waist tightly to pull me even closer.

The heat between us was completely out of control.

"Eliana," he breathed heavily against my lips, his kisses trailing down my jawline and sinking into the sensitive skin of my neck.

His hand found the zipper at the back of my custom gown.

With one smooth, fluid motion, he pulled it down. The black silk slipped off my shoulders, pooling slightly at my waist, exposing the lace of my lingerie.

Craig stepped back just a fraction of an inch to look at me. His eyes were dark, incredibly hungry, completely captivated by what he saw. He reached out, his warm fingers tracing the edge of the lace on my chest.

"You are so damn beautiful," he whispered thickly, leaning back in to capture my lips again.

Eliana

My eyes fluttered closed as Craig leaned in, and I was inches away from letting him kiss, but then I regained my senses.

“No…” I murmured, pulling away. It was quite difficult because I wanted this but… no! “I’m sorry, Craig, but this can't happen,” I said, looking straight into his dark eyes.

They were glowing with unblemished heat and raw desire, barely contained.

I detangled myself from his arms, taking a small step back.

“Why?” He asked, that one word capturing everything else he wanted to say.

Taking a few steps away, I faced him squarely.

“Well, for one… you're my brother. It's wrong not to mention that we just met. I don't really know you!” I rushed the words out, rambling.

There was a brief moment of silence where I could feel his gaze brushing across my shoulders like a gentle caress.

“Is that all?” His British accent rubbed against me softly. “Come on, Eliana. You know that I'm not Rekho’s biological son; besides, I've told you how much I want you. Since the first moment I saw you-”

He trailed off to slowly walk towards me until he was standing less than a foot away, brushing his fingers down my cheek.

“I know you feel this thing between us too, don't you?”

A shiver ran through my spine, down to my core at his raw intensity.

If there's one thing I know, it's that Craig is unlike any man I've ever known.

He reached down to my back, sliding his hand through my waist. “I might not have all the answers for you right now, but I know this is right. Very, very right…”

His gaze roamed through my clothes, resting on my exposed white lace. The heat through his gaze was searing, lighting me up from the inside.

Red spots appeared on my cheeks during the innocent act, even though we had been kissing a few moments ago.

I desperately wanted to feel Craig's hands on my body. I briefly glanced down at his hands; they looked like they could properly pleasure a woman. But no matter how aroused I felt, it didn't eradicate the things Miguel did to me.

The lies, the emotional and physical abuse…

Unconsciously, my hand drifted towards my stomach, in the direction of my kidney.

Following my hands, his gaze turned icy cold; it felt like he could crush someone beneath it. I could almost taste his anger; it was that palpable.

“Don’t do that, Eliana.” Craig rasped, his voice a lethal whisper. “Not all men are like that asshole, Miguel! I promise I won't ever hurt you as he did, I swear! He's a fool for treating you like that!”

Gently raising his hands to cup the sides of my face, he brushed a loose curl away, tucking it behind my ear. “I'm gonna protect you and no one, especially that slime, Miguel, can ever hurt you again.”

His words rang true with sincerity, but if there's anything I've learnt from my ordeal with Miguel is that men will say anything to get what they want.

How can I trust that Craig isn't doing the same thing to me right now?

The truth is… I don't.

And that is no way to live, second-guessing and doubting every word that people say to me.

If I was going to heal from what Miguel did to me, then I needed to take some time… and just be alone, separate reality from the horrors I had endured.

“I'm sorry, Craig…” For the second time in less than 5 minutes, I pulled away again, regret coating my words. “But I can't. Not because I don't trust you, but because I don't trust myself right now, and the truth is, I need some time. I went through unimaginable things with Miguel, and I can't just ignore that and be with another man.”

“You're right.” His eyes flashed with understanding, and he nodded slowly, dropping his hands. “I understand. I'll give you all the time you need.”

“Excuse me?” I was taken aback by his words.

“Yes, you heard me right.” He stated in a tone that suggests any argument is futile. “I don't care how long you need or how much it's going to cost me, but I will wait for you.”

My mouth drops open because that was not what I was expecting to hear. “Craig…”

“Trust me, Eliana.” He murmurs, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiles.

Then, before I could say anything, he turned around and walked away, the smell of his cologne lingering in the air.

The whole interaction left me so flustered that I had to use the edge of my dress to lightly dab at my neck, suddenly feeling hot.

When that didn't work in making me cool down, I chose to leave the crowded room and go somewhere else.

Like the garden.

Slipping out through a hidden door, I found my way to a small secluded space by the side of the house, the scent of flowers assaulting my senses almost immediately.

As I stood there, I could almost feel a weight lift off my chest, a gentle breeze brushing over my skin.

From this vantage point, it felt like I was one with nature, and the rest of the world just faded into the background.

As I stood there, watching the trees sway gently in the night, I could hear my thoughts clearly.

I went over the list of things that have happened since I met my biological father. The way my life improved in a 360-degree measure and now with the latest addition, Craig declaring his feelings for me…

It was a lot to take in.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear the stranger wake up to me until he spoke,

“If I had known that there was going to be someone as beautiful as you here, then I would have shown up earlier.”

Startled, I turned to watch a young guy slowly approach me.

He was handsome and tall, almost as tall as Craig, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to glow in the twilight.

His strides screamed arrogance, the kind of confidence that came with wealth and privilege.

But despite his normal appearance, there was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way.

“Excuse me?” I managed to say.

He came to a stop a few feet away, smiling at me in a way that sent shivers down my spine.

“So you're the long-lost daughter of Rehko; you look better in person!” He stretched out his arm for a shake, but I hesitated, eyeing him closely.

“I’m sorry, who are you?”

“Oh, pardon my manners!” Placing a hand on his chest, he flashed me a carefree grin. “My name is John Prattville, CEO of Pratt Acquisitions and close friend of your father's.”

Eliana

I felt like I was on cloud nine and stretched like a satisfied cat as I grunted in bliss until I heard a soft chuckle beside me. My eyes flew open immediately.

Craig chuckled, then simply kissed me, breathless, not caring about my morning breath or anything else as I shrieked and stared at the entrance of my room. "Good morning, beautiful."

I pushed him off me as I exhaled and looked at him with a frown. "What on earth are you doing, Craig? Anyone could walk in, you know?"

"No one would dare, besides sleeping beauty. Dad said not to disturb your beauty sleep until you were properly rested, but I couldn't help myself the moment I walked in (he bit his lip seductively). You looked so tempting and delicious with your hair splayed on your soft pillows."

"Did you change me last night, Craig?"

"Yes, I did. Then I helped you bathe. There's no need to be shy around me, Eliana; there isn't a part of your body that wouldn't be acquainted with me in due time." He smirked unrepentantly, and I laughed. I couldn't help but laugh because this delicious-looking man who was the most eligible bachelor in town was acting rather clingy and goofy with me, which was a side I was certain people never got to see of him.

"Alright, Craig, I need a bath, and you need to leave now."

"Oh come on, angel, don't you want me in the bathroom with you? I swear it'd be worth your while."

I laughed...Gosh, I couldn't remember the last time I'd laughed this heartily and truthfully. I shook my head, "No, Craig. I'd rather have my bath alone, thank you."

He made a fake sad face, "Aww...okay then, beautiful. Dad wants you to visit his main branch today, so take all the time you need to look beautiful. I'd be in the dining room waiting for you, but if you prefer breakfast in bed, I'd bring it to you."

"Wait, what's the time right now?" I exclaimed as I looked up at the wall and realised it was almost noon and screamed, "Why didn't you wake me up? It's so late."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "You needed your beauty sleep. Every other thing would wait."

I almost melted right then as a tear slipped down my cheek, and he immediately panicked.

"Hey... hey... hey... what are you doing, beautiful? Your eyes are too beautiful for tears. Stop...none of that here."

I looked at him as he wiped my tears, then burst into laughter as I pulled him to myself and kissed him, and in mere seconds, I felt him bite my nipple bud before I pulled away from him, breathless.

"I'm not complaining, angel, but you can't start this and just leave me hanging...common." He splayed his hands helplessly, and I laughed.

"You should always laugh, Eliana; you look absolutely breathtaking and gorgeous when you laugh. Seriously, what was that for?"

I cleared my throat as emotions threatened to overwhelm me. "Just...thank you for accepting me."

"I don't just accept you, Eliana; I love you, and I will spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I love you."

I chuckled nervously as I pulled a strand of my hair away from my ear. "So... Do you, like, work at the company with him?"

"No angel... I'm a tech genius... You need to use Google, darling. Arthur adopted me when he found me abandoned at an orphanage at the age of six. He gave me identity, a name and everything I am today is thanks to him, but I've been able to do well on my own. I am a shareholder in all of his companies, but everything belongs to you now. It's time for you to learn the ropes."

"Wow... that's a lot, Craig."

"I know. You're rich... rich now. So get ready, beautiful. I'd be waiting for you." He kissed my forehead and walked out, and I finally exhaled.

This was a lot to process; weeks back I'd thought this was a fairytale, but here I was living it all as my reality now.

I got off the bed, had my bath, brushed my teeth, then moved back to my closet- a walk-in closet which was probably the size of half of Miguel's entire mansion.

I decided to wear a corporate white trouser suit which complemented my beautiful skin, as I dabbed a bit of makeup on my face and chose black heels and paired them with a simple, elegant necklace. I used a very red lipstick to complete my look.

Dang! I looked beautiful. What happened to Miguel's wife? She certainly wasn't the one standing here right now.

I picked up a black Gucci-branded pearl purse and finally walked out of my room and strutted carefully down the stairs as I found Craig already seated at the dining table, waiting for me with food.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Eliana. I have your food at the table for you.” Martha said respectfully.

I chuckled and nodded at her. “Thank you, Martha.”

The whole time I walked up to the table and sat, I noticed Craig as he stared at me in silence. “What is it, Craig? Is there something wrong?”

“I feel like a fallen angel from the sky had just graced me with her presence. You have left me absolutely breathless, beautiful.”

I chuckled as I picked up the utensils and started eating, but not once did Craig stop looking at me.

After a while, I finished eating, and Martha cleared the table. Craig cleared his throat and smiled at me. “You're so beautiful; I wish I could hide you away from the whole world.” He said in such seriousness.

“Come on now, Craig, let's not keep Dad waiting.”

“Yep, it's time to visit one office, princess.” He nodded and stood as he stretched his hand towards me and helped me stand.

We walked away from the dining room and walked out of the mansion as the workers greeted us both with respect, but then I suddenly stood still as I noticed the car we were going to father's office in- a limousine. Craig was definitely up to no good. I looked at him, and he smirked. “Craig? Why are we going in a limousine?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “I don't feel like driving Eliana today, so Jude would be our driver today.”

Before I could give a comeback, Jude left the door open as he pulled me into the limousine, but before I was able to say a thing, my phone kept ringing until I got alerted to a text message and finally opened my purse and brought out my phone-it was Miguel. “You need to stop ignoring me, Eliana; we need to talk.”