All Chapters of Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Emily's POVThe sound of my phone buzzing echoed through the room, jolting me from my thoughts as I made my way upstairs. It was strange. I hadn’t seen it earlier when I’d woken up, and now it sat on the edge of the bedside table, vibrating with an unfamiliar urgency.The ringtone filled the air, “I’m a rockstar, I’m a rockstar, it’s not hype-hype, baby, make you rock-hard,” and I couldn’t help but hum along, swaying my hips slightly to the beat. Lisa from Blackpink, I thought with a small smile. “God, she’s my favorite,” I murmured to myself as I danced to the song for a few more beats, caught up in the moment.Without thinking, I picked up the call mid-chorus, too engrossed in the music to realize what I was doing. The voice on the other end pulled me out of my reverie like a bucket of cold water.“Emily? Oh my God, where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you!” Claire’s panicked voice filled my ear.My heart stopped, the phone slipping from my hand and bouncing off the bed. Th

Emily’s POVThe phone clicked silent, but my heart continued racing. Claire’s words lingered in my mind, her fierce loyalty a balm to my frayed nerves. I shouldn’t have picked up. Adrian’s stern warning was still ringing in my ears, but what choice did I have? Claire was like a sister to me, and keeping her in the dark felt wrong.It was like I had to make a decision between my saviour and my friend. It’s a difficult decision to make, so the compromise was very much necessary.My chest tightened as I thought of Adrian’s face when he’d find out I’d disobeyed him.Because as much as I tried to ignore it, Adrian Blackwood was becoming something more than just my protector. I shook my head, trying to dispel the thoughts that made my pulse quicken. No, it was just the situation, the proximity, the danger—nothing more. Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.But he was both infuriating and magnetic so I almost can’t help the confusion.With a sigh,I got off the bed and was about to

Emily's POV The tension in the air was palpable as I sat in front of my laptop, my hands trembling slightly as I typed out the final lines of the exposé. With Claire’s help, we had gathered enough evidence to publicly ruin Nathan. His illicit dealings, offshore accounts, and connections to shady businessmen—everything was laid out clearly, ready to be unleashed into the world.It wasn’t just about revenge anymore; it was about reclaiming my life.Claire had worked her media connections, ensuring that the article would make waves the moment it was published. The clock on the screen counted down the seconds. My heart pounded louder with each tick. This was it.“Nathan’s going to see this and panic,” Claire’s voice buzzed through the speakerphone. “Are you sure you’re ready?”I took a deep breath, closing my eyes to steady myself. “I’m ready. He deserves everything that’s coming to him.”Claire’s excitement was palpable. “Once this hits the media, it’s over for him. I hope you’re watchin

 Emily’s POVThe soft buzz of my phone dragged me out of my thoughts. I reached for it on the counter, expecting a message from Claire, but my heart sank as I saw the screen light up.**Invitation: Banquet Dinner for New CEO at St. Claire Hotel Group**I blinked at the notification, confusion twisting in my stomach. A banquet... for me?But I wasn’t in charge of the company anymore, not officially. The board had installed a new CEO since Nathan’s downfall, and now they were hosting a grand dinner as though nothing had happened.I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the irony. Camille’s fingerprints were all over this. She was undoubtedly behind this invitation, setting up the stage for another of her twisted games.The tension in my chest tightened, and without thinking, I called for Adrian.He appeared in the doorway, his dark, calculating gaze immediately locking onto mine. “What is it?”I handed him the phone, wat

Emily’s POVThe lights flickered back on, and the ballroom surged with whispers, startled laughter, and the tinkling of glassware. For everyone else, the blackout had been a mere hiccup in the night. But for me, it was something far more chilling. The dark, the suffocating silence—it had all dragged me back to a place I fought hard to escape.But in Adrian’s arms, for the briefest moment, I hadn’t been completely lost. His presence was grounding, the solid feel of him against me calming my racing heart. I clung to him for a second longer, burying my face in his chest, the soft scent of his cologne a lifeline to reality.“You’re okay,” Adrian murmured, his voice barely audible over the noise around us. He pulled back slightly, just enough to search my face, concern etched in the hardened lines of his jaw.I wasn’t okay, not entirely, but I had no choice but to be. There was no room for weakness—not with Camille watching, lurking somewhere in the shadows.