The Billornaire's Secret

Unexpected Test

The morning sun filtered through the grand windows of Grey Manor, casting golden light across the marble floors. Olivia sat at the breakfast table with Alexander, savoring the calm of the morning. Since meeting Victor, she felt as if she were under constant observation, though he hadn’t given any direct indication of it. The quiet tension had become a backdrop to her days.

“Did you sleep well?” Alexander asked, his voice cutting through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present.

She smiled, meeting his gaze. “Yeah. Surprisingly well.” The warmth of his presence made her heart flutter.

“Good.” He leaned back, sipping his coffee, his eyes softening as they studied her. “Grandfather wants to talk to us later today. Nothing serious, just a small gathering at one of his business functions.”

Olivia’s heart skipped a beat. **A business function?** She had heard bits and pieces about Victor Grey’s influence, but the idea of being in the same room as his high-profile associates felt like being thrown into the deep end of the ocean without knowing how to swim. She took a deep breath to steady herself.

“Oh, a business event?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the rising anxiety within her.

Alexander’s lips curled into a small smile, attempting to alleviate her worry. “It’ll be fine. I’ll be there with you. It’s more of a social gathering than anything formal.”

She nodded, though the knot in her stomach tightened. While she wasn’t overly concerned about making a fool of herself, the uncertainty of Victor’s intentions gnawed at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he would find some subtle way to test her.

---

Later that day, Olivia found herself seated in the back of a sleek black car beside Alexander as they drove toward an exclusive hotel downtown. The city whizzed by, buildings rising like towering giants against the clear blue sky. Alexander reached over and gently squeezed her hand, grounding her as the world outside blurred into a series of colors.

“You look stunning,” he said, admiring her simple yet elegant dress that hugged her figure just right, making her feel a blend of confidence and nervousness.

“Thanks. I just hope I don’t stand out too much.” The thought of being the center of attention made her stomach churn.

Alexander chuckled, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Standing out is inevitable. But I have a feeling Grandfather knows exactly what he’s doing by inviting you.”

She raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged lightly, looking out the window, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Let’s just say he likes to… observe how people handle different situations.”

That only made Olivia more nervous, but she didn’t have time to ask any more questions. They arrived at the hotel, and as they stepped out, Olivia caught her breath at the sight of the luxurious setting. The hotel’s entrance was grand, with gleaming chandeliers visible even from the lobby. Inside, the event hall buzzed with the quiet hum of important conversations and the clink of champagne glasses, the air thick with the scent of luxury and power.

As Alexander led her through the room, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back, Olivia tried to stay calm. She could hear laughter and chatter, but her heart raced as they approached Victor.

---

Victor Grey stood near a group of businessmen, his sharp eyes scanning the room with a calculating gaze. He greeted them with a formal nod, but his attention quickly shifted to Olivia.

“Olivia, Alexander,” he said, his voice cool but not unkind. “I’m glad you could join us.”

“It’s an honor, Mr. Grey,” Olivia replied, forcing a polite smile, acutely aware of the intensity of his scrutiny. She could sense Alexander’s reassuring presence beside her, but it was hard not to feel like a specimen under a microscope.

“Relax, Olivia,” Victor said, his eyes gleaming with faint amusement, as if he could read her thoughts. “This is just a small gathering of friends. No need for formalities.”

They mingled for a while, with Olivia doing her best to keep up with the polite small talk. She listened carefully to the conversations around her—wealth, business, mergers—and attempted to contribute whenever she could, though the topics felt far beyond her usual experiences. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she felt like an outsider in a world where everyone else seemed so polished and poised.

---

At one point, Victor motioned for Olivia to follow him to a quieter corner of the room, away from the thrumming conversations.

“Tell me, Olivia,” he began, his voice measured, “how do you see your future with Alexander?”

Olivia blinked, caught off guard by the directness of the question. She hadn’t anticipated anything so pointed. “I—I care about him a lot,” she answered truthfully, trying to steady her voice. “We’re still getting to know each other, but I know he means the world to me.”

Victor studied her, his face unreadable. “Caring for Alexander is important, but there’s more to life with him than emotions. He is destined for a position of great responsibility, both in our family and in the business world. Can you handle that?”

Olivia swallowed, feeling the weight of his question. “I know I don’t have experience with this kind of world,” she admitted, “but I’m willing to learn. And I won’t back down from standing by him, no matter what that means.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if weighing her words with careful scrutiny. “Words are easy, Olivia. It’s actions that count.”

Just as she started to feel the tension rising, a waiter approached, offering Victor a drink. He waved it off, but as the waiter turned to leave, Olivia noticed his tray wobble precariously.

Without thinking, she stepped forward, reaching out to steady it before the champagne glasses could topple. She caught the tray just in time, preventing an embarrassing spill across the floor, her heart racing with adrenaline.

Victor’s lips quirked up in a small smile. “Quick reflexes,” he noted, his tone shifting from serious to slightly more approving.

Olivia smiled back, relief flooding through her. “Just a bit of luck.”

Victor chuckled softly, the tension easing. “Luck or not, it seems you have a knack for handling unexpected situations. That might be useful in the future.”

Before Olivia could respond, Alexander reappeared, glancing between them with a hint of curiosity. “Everything alright here?”

Victor nodded, a flicker of approval in his gaze. “Perfectly fine. I was just getting to know Olivia a bit better.”

Alexander’s eyes softened as he looked at her, his hand resting gently on her back once again. Olivia felt a quiet sense of victory—small, but significant. She had passed some kind of unspoken test.

As they left the event, Olivia leaned against Alexander’s shoulder in the car, finally allowing herself to relax.

“Victor approves, doesn’t he?” she asked softly, her heart swelling with hope.

Alexander smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from her face with a tenderness that made her heart flutter. “It looks that way. You did great.”

Olivia sighed, feeling the tension slowly melt away. She wasn’t quite sure what the future held, but for now, she felt like she could handle whatever came next—one step at a time.

As they drove into the night, the city lights flickered outside like stars, each one a reminder of the possibilities that lay ahead. With Alexander by her side, she felt ready to embrace whatever challenges and triumphs awaited them.