The Billionaire's Secret Legacy

Chapter One

Annabelle's POV

I run out of my apartment with my hair all over the place and stress sitting heavy on my chest. I'm so late for work, it’s not even funny.

That’s what I get for having a girls’ night on a Sunday.

But come on, my cousin just got engaged. Was I supposed to sit at home eating cereal?

Keys jangle in my hand as I dig through my bag, praying I didn’t leave my phone inside. Finally I find it. I open my ride app.

Nearest driver: 15 minutes away.

Perfect! I’m 20 minutes late already, what’s another 15?

I lean against a pole, rubbing my temples. My head’s pounding, my stomach’s unsettled, and I’m definitely in no shape to drive myself even if I had a car.

I don’t even have the strength to panic anymore.

That’s when a car pulls up beside me.

“Need a ride?”

I look up. There’s a guy in the driver’s seat probably around my age, maybe a little older. Clean cut. Friendly face. Bright white smile. The kind of guy you’d assume is trouble, but pray isn’t.

Under normal circumstances, I’d ignore him and keep waiting.

But I’m tired. I’m late. And if I lose this job, I’m doomed.

“Actually… yeah,” I mutter. I open the door and slide in.

“St. Paul’s Memorial Hospital, please.”

I say it while already scrolling through my calendar, trying to push my meetings back so I can get to my patients first thing.

Board meetings can wait. People’s lives can’t.

The ride is quiet. Smooth. He doesn’t ask questions, and I don’t offer any. Twenty minutes later, he stops in front of the hospital.

“Thanks,” I say quickly, already halfway out of the car.

I don’t even remember his name.

I get an IV to rid myself of the crazy hangover then start my day in earnest.

I get off work at exactly 8:00 pm. I stand outside the hospital trying to order a ride because all of my colleagues are going the opposite way.

I think about the mysterious guy from this morning. Way to go Annabelle, a stranger basically knows your home and work address.

A car pulls up just at that moment and the window slides down. No. Fucking. Way! My head really hurts now, more than it did this morning.

“What do you want?” I know I sound rude now, but I'm too far gone to care.

“ To offer you a ride? He smirks and I swear my heart flutters. Like I did this morning”..

I swallow nervously, “well, I don't need one”.

“I beg to differ. Besides, I'm going the same way”. He shrugs like he knows I can't turn down the offer.

“How do I know you're not just going to kidnap me?”

“Well, I think it's too late for that now, don't you think?”.

I shrug mentally, he's right. He had every opportunity to hurt me this morning but he didn't. Besides, I share my location with my cousin every single time.

He pulls up in front of my apartment and I get off. “Can I get your name atleast?” He calls out just as I turn the key in the lock.

“It's too late for that now don't you think?” I reply, shutting the door with a big smile on my face.

I fall asleep immediately. I get on my bed too tired to even change but not too tired to think of the handsome stranger.

The next morning, I step out of my door and I nearly have a heart attack. The guy from last night is standing outside my house leaning against his car.

“What are you doing here?” My voice sounds weird. I cough to hide my embarrassment.

“To offer you a ride,” he says with that same smirk__ the one that made my heart skip this morning.

I swallow. “I don’t need one.”

“Sure about that?” He shrugs, casual. “I’m headed your way anyway.”

I step inside the car like I'm on auto pilot

He looks so handsome today. Now that I'm getting a good look at him I noticed he has a little scar on his brow and I itch to ask how he got it.

“I don't even know your name,” I mutter, half way through the drive.

“You could ask”.

“I'm asking”. I protest.

“Well that wasn't exactly a question”.

“Okay, what's your name?” My palms on my lap suddenly grow sweaty but I fight the urge to wipe it.

“I'm Walter. What's your name?” He replies, in that silky voice of his.

“I'm Dr. Annabelle Wright”

He glances at me with the ‘i know what you did there’.

“Eyes on the road, Mister” I try to sound stern but the big smile on my face fails me.

This continues for three months till one day after work, I hurry out of the hospital and I'm not the least bit surprised when I find him waiting for me outside.

“Hi”.

“Hi”..

The drive home is silent but we don't try to break it, it's a comfortable silence.

It's like something changed and I can't figure out what it is.

I don't get out of the car when we get to my apartment, running my hand nervously on my skirt.

“Umm… Goodnight, Mister Walter”.

“Just Walter”. He says turning to face me fully.

When his eyes meet mine it's like I'm rooted to the spot, I can only stare hopelessly at his blue green eyes.

My breathing quickens and I shut my eyes too scared to continue looking at him trying to shut out the memory of my dad hugging my mum while the very next minute he hit her so hard she passed out.

Scared of what might happen next. Scared I'm letting this man take control of me, my heart, my body even after swearing I'd never let any man have that power over me like my dad did over my mum just because she loved him so much she couldn't leave him.

“Look at me, Annabelle”. He whispers and his voice surrounds me making me feel powerful, scared and safe at the same time.

“You're safe with me, I'll do everything in my power to protect you. I'll never hurt you”. He says speaking into my very soul.

I open my eyes slowly to find myself staring right into his eyes, the distance between is slowly disappearing.

You know what's more powerful than a kiss? That moment before the kiss. This moment right here.

When the kiss comes I welcome it, my heart flutters, my knees weaken even though I'm sitting.

He pulls back only then do I open my eyes to see him looking as dazed as I feel.

He tucks my hair behind my ear. “I'll see you tomorrow”. His voice sounds like sand paper against wood and I revel in the knowledge I'm not the only one affected by the kiss.

I step out of the car in shaky legs, get into my house with a heart that feels ready to burst from happiness. I think I always knew this day was coming. The conversations in the car, the impromptu lunch during work and the random accidental walks during the weekend.

The next day, nothing’s said about the kiss and weirdly, nothing’s awkward either.

My phone bings a week later and it's a text from Walter.

Wear something nice, we're going out tomorrow. 7pm.

I text back immediately, with my fingers flying over the keys.

Is this a date?

He replies. It definitely is.

I scream into my pillow, kicking my legs in the air. When was the last time I felt this way?

Saturday evening turns out to be the most magical evening of my night. We meet at a fancy restaurant he owns. I found out he's a CEO of W.H groups short for Walter Harrison_ a self founded company that specializes in robotics. Probably why have I never made the connection? Walter said he was a robotic engineer but I never asked where he worked although his cars and outfits definitely told me he is well to do.

Halfway through dinner, a waitress comes to our table with a red velvet cake that I'm sure we didn't order.

My mouth water, and I look at Walter questioningly. “We didn't order this, did we?”.

“Yes, we did. Now eat up”. From our lunch dates I found out Walter doesn't have a sweet tooth so I get to eat all the dessert myself.

At the first bite, I moan. Walter's eyes darken but I pretend to not notice.

“Will you be my girlfriend, Annabelle?” He blurts suddenly.