The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride

“Mr. Larson, the surveillance system has just been updated. It was scheduled to be done yesterday, but the tech department was worried that something important might occur while the security cameras were out of service, so they put it off until after the employees left for the day.” The assistant explained the situation in a shaking voice. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he was scared nonetheless. Especially given the dark and formidable face his boss was sporting.

Even so, his fear did not curb his curiosity. Why was the president suddenly investigating this matter?

“Keep looking into it. Contact me once you find new leads.” Brandon’s lips curled into a sneer. “Call Miss Turner here.”

He was nearing the end of his tether. The mandate to execute the system update at such a fortuitous time had come from the senior executives—all of them, it seemed. Clearly, whoever was behind this was meticulous. They had made sure that there were no loose ends, no trace left.

Charis entered Brandon’s office with a stack of documents and her laptop. She looked tired, as though she had spent the last several nights buried in work.

“We just had three separate meetings in a row. The recent turmoil in Wall Street and the collapse of the stock market has put everyone in a state of panic.” She sounded weary as well, but she brightened up as she approached Brandon’s desk. “You never ask me to stop by around this hour. What’s up?”

By all accounts, she appeared unaware of what was happening behind the scenes.

“What were you doing at the stairwell yesterday after work?” Brandon asked bluntly, though his voice remained calm.

She dropped the documents she was carrying on his desk and said in a playful tone, “You must be kidding, Mr. Larson. You know that I hate taking the stairs. I had a meeting

silence, a myriad of

It didn’t take long for her to put two and two together, though she didn’t let on just how

don’t know what you fought about, but if you think I had anything to do with it, then feel free to check into it. There are surveillance cameras everywhere

unbothered, and anyone would have immediately thought that she was innocent in

in a meeting when Janet had left the day before. Brandon had confirmed it himself, and more than a dozen

was starting to have doubts. Deep down, his instincts told him that Charis was involved in this debacle in one way or another, but he didn’t have any proof to back up his hunch.

She didn’t believe him, of course, but

that case, I’ll be taking my leave. Look at you, you should go home soon, too. No matter how important your work is, you still need to

as Charis left and closed the door behind her, Brandon received a call from

plane ticket out of Seacisco. It leaves at 2

inside his chest. He grabbed his suit jacket from the

crowded when

walked over,