Billionaire Pretends To Be Homeless To Find True Love, Then This Happened
Chapter 4
Adrian returned to Manhattan using a borrowed car.
He changed into a suit at a private apartment Marcus kept for emergencies.
Then he walked into Blackwell Holdings.
The boardroom went silent.
“Where have you been?”
Adrian looked at the directors.
“Working.”
One of them stared.
“You disappeared for three weeks.”
“I needed time.”
“We have a crisis.”
“I know.”
Marcus handed him a folder.
A competitor had obtained confidential documents.
Several major investors were considering selling their shares.
The stock price had dropped sharply.
Adrian read the documents.
“Who had access?”
“Senior executives.”
“Which ones?”
Marcus pointed to the list.
Adrian recognized one name.
Richard Vale.
His chief financial officer.
Adrian had trusted Richard for eleven years.
“Bring him in.”
Richard arrived.
He looked nervous.
Adrian watched him carefully.
“You leaked the documents?”
“No.”
“Then why did they originate from your account?”
“I was hacked.”
Adrian stared.
“Convenient.”
Richard shook his head.
“I swear.”
Adrian ordered an investigation.
But something didn’t make sense.
The leak had happened while Adrian was away.
Someone knew he wasn’t in the office.
Someone had deliberately chosen that timing.
Then Adrian remembered something.
Emily.
She knew he had disappeared.
She knew nothing about his company.
Could someone have followed him?
He dismissed the thought.
It was impossible.
That evening, Adrian went back to Brooklyn.
Emily opened the bakery door.
“You came back.”
“I did.”
She smiled.
“I was worried.”
“About me?”
“Of course.”
Adrian felt something in his chest.
“I missed you.”
Emily looked at him.
“I missed you too.”
He wanted to tell her everything.
But before he could, a black SUV stopped across the street.
A man stepped out.
Adrian recognized him immediately.
One of his security officers.
Marcus had ordered him to keep watch.
Emily noticed.
“Who’s that?”
Adrian froze.
“My friend.”
The man looked toward Adrian.
Then at Emily.
He understood.
He quietly left.
Emily frowned.
“Your friend drives a very expensive car.”
Adrian forced a smile.
“He’s doing well.”
“Better than you?”
“Definitely.”
She laughed.
But the suspicion remained.
That night, Adrian walked Emily home.
She stopped at her building.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“I know you’re hiding something.”
He looked at her.
“I don’t want to know unless you’re ready to tell me.”
Adrian couldn’t breathe.
“I’ll tell you.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
Then she kissed his cheek.
Adrian stood frozen.
Emily walked inside.
He touched his cheek.
For a billionaire who had purchased buildings, companies, and private islands, a simple kiss had never meant so much.
The next morning, Marcus called.
“We found the person behind the leak.”
“Who?”
“Richard.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“What did he do?”
“He sold the documents.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew you were gone.”
Adrian clenched his fist.
“How long?”
“Months.”
Marcus continued.
“And there’s more.”
“What?”
“Richard knew about your experiment.”
Adrian froze.
“How?”
“Someone at the restaurant saw you.”
“Did he tell anyone?”
“We don’t know.”
Adrian suddenly realized the danger.
If Richard knew he had been pretending to be poor, he could expose everything.
Worse, he could manipulate Emily.
Adrian rushed back to Brooklyn.
But Emily wasn’t at the bakery.
Her phone was off.
Her apartment was empty.
And on the door was a note.
Daniel, we need to talk.
