The Fired Secretary Is A Billionaire Heiress

Caroline POV:

A crumpled blue folder slammed onto my keyboard, scattering freshly stapled pages of the NHL broadcasting proposal across the floor. The sharp edge of the cardstock sliced across the back of my hand, leaving a thin red line of blood on skin already pale and cold from four straight hours of typing.

I stepped back, my eyebrows drawing together as sharp stiletto footsteps echoed across the marble floor of the Apex Sports Group executive suite.

Kelsie Guy, the Guy family heiress, Apex board observer, and the woman Kiel's board wanted him to marry, stood in front of my desk in limited-edition red-bottom heels, her chest heaving. She pointed a manicured finger right at my nose, her voice shrill enough to pierce my eardrums.

"You think a secretary can sell us out and still walk these floors?"

I looked down at the papers littering the carpet--the top-secret commercial bid for the upcoming hockey season that I had just finished organizing as Chief Executive Secretary--before meeting her twisted face. I raised an eyebrow.

"Speak with evidence, Kelsie. Only you, me, and Kiel have ever touched this proposal."

She let out a harsh laugh, waving her hand so her massive sapphire ring caught the overhead light.

"Who else would sell out Apex for cash besides a broke, gold-digging secretary like you?"

I didn't bother arguing with her tantrum. I bent my knees to pick up the scattered documents and restore order to my workstation.

Seeing me ignore her, Kelsie lunged forward and shoved my shoulder with both hands.

The sudden force threw me off balance. My lower back slammed hard against the sharp corner of the mahogany desk. A wave of raw pain shot up my spine, forcing a sharp gasp from my throat as my fingers gripped the desk edge.

Before I could straighten up, the heavy double doors of the President's office swung open from the inside.

Kiel Fischer, Apex's president, stood on the threshold in a bespoke three-piece suit. His cold, light-brown eyes swept over the mess on the floor, the veins on the back of his hands bulging against his skin.

Pressing a palm against my aching waist, I stood straight and looked at him across the scattered paper. For six years, I had worked as his right hand by day and been his secret lover by night. I waited for him to shut down this absurd accusation, just like we had always handled crises together.

Kiel's gaze paused on the bleeding scratch on my hand for a single second. Then he looked away and strode straight toward Kelsie.

Kelsie's face crumpled into a mask of grievance. Her eyes rimmed with red as she grabbed his suit sleeve.

"Kiel, she sold our core bidding data to Caesar Golden's camp!"

I curled my fingers into fists, my nails digging deep into my palms as I stared at Kiel's profile.

Kiel patted the back of Kelsie's hand. His voice was stiff, yet unmistakable in its reassurance.

"I know. Leave this to me."

He turned around and looked down at me from his full height, his expression devoid of warmth.

"Caroline. Explain yourself."

My stomach tightened. For six years, I had mistaken his silence for trust. I stiffened my spine, keeping my voice flat.

"I didn't leak anything. The security footage and the email server logs will prove I'm clean."

Kiel tugged at his tie, the crease between his brows deepening.

"The security system was down for maintenance at dawn, and the rival team already has what they believe are our numbers. Right now, everything points to you."

"Everything, meaning her word alone?"

I pointed at Kelsie, who was dabbing at her dry eyes, my voice rising an octave.

"Watch your tone, Caroline."

Kiel cut me off sharply. He took a step forward, his tall frame casting a heavy shadow over me.

I tilted my chin up and met his cold stare, searching the eyes I had loved for six years for a shred of trust.

He stared back without blinking.

"Kelsie is the heiress to the Guy family fortune. She has zero motive to sabotage her own interests. Whereas you--"

He paused, his gaze raking over my unbranded navy work suit.

"You've been asking for a raise all month."

The words landed quietly. That was worse. Six years of hiding my own family wealth, working sixteen-hour days to build his empire, and keeping our relationship in the dark--all of it meant nothing. To him, I was just a greedy bottom-feeder who could be bought for pocket change.

Behind Kiel's shoulder, Kelsie curved her lips into a smug smile and mouthed two silent words at me: You lose.

I closed my eyes and drew in a slow breath, forcing the burning sourness at the back of my nose down into my chest. When I opened them again, my chest felt completely hollow.

Kiel seemed to take my silence for submission. He adjusted his silver cufflinks and spoke in his usual boardroom command.

"Get in my office. We need to discuss how to minimize the fallout."

Without a backward glance, he turned and guided Kelsie through the heavy mahogany doors.

I stood alone among the ruined papers, looked down at the dried blood on the back of my hand, and let out a cold, quiet laugh.