THE BILLIONAIRE'S PAWN

h time that morning as she dropped the phone s

ntly-something she does when she's unsettled-to calm hers

remaining asset. She had just called the last family friend they had, the Gordons, informing them about the turn of

er ever since her father's business collapsed and he lost his life along the way. The Gordons had con

d. It is already burdensome,

d she picked up her phone immediately. Seeing the caller, h

, he

kay today," a calm male voice respon

r throat. "I'm fine, thank

t pause before the person began

he was about to update her about. This time,

as possible. I don't mean to scare you," he paused, and Olivia could hear him sig

everything in my power to gather the money soon. She'll survive it; she has to." Th

thorities have decided to move people in that category out of the I

on't die. I'll do everything in my powe

be expe

very much,

th that, he ended t

phone on the table and let out an extremely loud scream, b

rything happening all at once? Why!" She screamed once more and banged her hands continuously on the wood

ond-hand furniture, and a stack of overdue bills on one of the wooden stools. The once-grand Bennett estate is now a distant me

ad always done. This time, she couldn't. Sitting up on the chair, she revis

d rushed to the dining room to pick up her phone. F

****

the office of the secretary of Sebastian Cross, CEO of the popul

d, "Miss Olivia, it's been

e said, forcing a smi

be in a meeting in

im it's

oss's office and then gave Olivia the go

ort, and though she hated to return to her past, she had no other choice. She hesitated for a moment at the entrance, feeling o

stian had accumulated over the years. The room was filled with modern art, expensive furnitu

smirked as soon as she walked in, his eyes flickering with a mix of c

ide and closer to him. She pulled out the chair directly opposite hi

lp but see it again. That had been one of the thing

aking Olivia feel a bit uneasy in her seat. "I can see you've had a rethink. But of course, who

ivia blurted out, her

cking face turning to a scornful one. "

things over with you; I came to ask for your help. I need your help, Sebastian, and I know you can help me," she said, wo

turn just to seek his help, or her telling him she was indeed no longer interest

ntion medicines anymore. She has been in the hospital for weeks now, and if the surgery isn't done, I might lose her. And you know quite well that she's the last family I ha

goddamn mouth to me because she saw me at a club with my lady?

ght for her to confront you. She might have just

e?" Olivia was about to speak when Seb cut in again. "Throu

's shameful; that's why I'm pleading

m his seat and walked around his office, his voice resonating throughout the entire room. "I,

she shot up from her seat to face him. Her eyes were a little te

he pleaded, her

He raised

yth

pened the file to see its contents, nodded his head, an

t, confusion written all over he

ou need is in there. G

a business partner of yours, with several

an expressionless face. "In six hours, Adrian Hawke is to host a charity masquerade at his family estate. You're to find

n here that it is their family heirloom, and nobody knows where it's kept except the Hawkes? So

and on the table, his face stoic. "Or you

throat as she processed his de

ring. He leaned in closer, his gaze piercing into hers. "And if you fail... well,