The Heiress & The CEO

Chapter 01

CLAIRE LEBLANC

There was nothing money couldn't buy.

It was something I had known since birth because from jewels to people... everything was handed to you if you flashed the zeros after the decimal in your bank account. And when you were a LeBlanc? It became even more apparent, shining like freshly cut diamonds.

Want to know the biggest proof of that? It was the annual ball. A ball that always caused discord, screams, tears, and especially joy. Because besides being the most anticipated event for all the families with a certain reputation (who were already regular faces at this event), it was something the new rich craved — since if your family received an invitation, it was almost certain that contacts would pop up at your door, and of course... it was proof that the LeBlanc family... admired you in some way.

And this specific ball? I was the one responsible for organizing it.

I spent almost an entire month without sleeping properly because of the planning. I saw so many color palettes that I could no longer tell baby blue from cyan — along with all the other concerns like catering, outfits, and so on...

But honestly? None of that mattered now, because I was in the spotlight, and I was also... descending those beautiful stairs that allowed me to admire all my hard work.

The tables were just the way I wanted, the flowers placed exactly where I had instructed, and the chandelier I had chosen to best suit the decoration I had envisioned? It was exactly as I had imagined.

But something was missing.

My fiancé wasn't there.

"He said he'd be the first person I'd see..." I found myself thinking while I forced myself to smile, keeping my serene expression as all those eyes — were on me.

However, I thought it was just my imagination that I couldn't see George in the ballroom; I even suspected the spotlight blinding me was to blame, limiting my vision with its brightness.

But... even when I reached the last step, he wasn’t there.

He wasn’t waiting for me.

"Claire, darling!" — one of the guests approached me, with large emeralds on her chest and ears — "This event is divine! The decoration, the music... heavens!"

I smiled.

"I'm flattered," I replied, a proud smile spreading on my lips as I discreetly searched for my fiancé — "What did you think of the drinks and appetizers? Were they to your liking?"

"Dear! They are on par with this party; you should give me the name of the place that provides them," she quickly responded, making me remember how hard it had been to find that place, not to mention all the tastings.

As if I would hand over that contact on a silver platter.

"Of course, I’ll give you the number when I can," I lied — "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to... find someone."

"You're probably looking for your fiancé, right?" She remarked — "It’s a sin that he’s not here, especially for abandoning you at such an important event."

I sighed.

I sighed and forced my lips into the most social smile I knew.

"He must be busy," I said more to myself than to the lady in front of me — "Now, I hope you enjoy the event." I replied as I moved in another direction, searching for George in every corner I knew he usually hid, all while doing my best to be a good hostess and talk to all the guests who came to me. But eventually, I had found literally everyone except my fiancé!

I sighed in frustration.

I tried to come up with every possible excuse for him when I descended the stairs and didn’t see him, and when I began walking back and forth like a lost fool. I also tried to think the best of George.

"He must’ve gone to the restroom," I thought, or maybe, "He’s hiding, or perhaps he’s planning a surprise for me, just waiting for me to find him."

But none of those alternatives made sense anymore.

It left me exhausted, my feet aching from all the walking, and honestly? I couldn't keep smiling anymore when all I wanted... was for my fiancé to be by my side.

"It’s okay, Claire... he’ll have a good explanation..." I told myself as I searched for any empty room where I could lie down, maybe rest for a bit, "For sure, something happened, and he couldn’t..."

"More... deeper... ah!" I heard a woman moan just as I opened one of the doors — and to my complete displeasure — it was George, my George, who was thrusting into her.

He was screwing a woman who wasn’t me.

A woman who was on all fours, her dress practically... thrown on the floor.

"Will you take long?" I asked, one of my eyebrows raised, George's blue eyes staring at me with a hint of surprise.

"Claire?" He pulled out of the girl, and as she lifted her face and tossed her hair back... I saw that it was one of my friends.

Vanessa Adams.

Of course... what else should I have expected? As if this situation wasn’t cliché enough.

"George, Vanessa," I said with pure disdain, which was just a mask because my chest ached, and the urge to cry was overwhelming.

But I was still a LeBlanc.

I wasn't going to show weakness to traitors.

"Claire, listen to me..."

"What’s there to listen to? That you tripped and accidentally fell into her?" My voice was filled with bitterness — "That you were drugged and suddenly found yourself screwing her, maybe? Or better yet! You were enchanted?!"

"Stop joking around, Claire!" He raised his voice, his eyes now glaring at me as he approached — "Do you think it was easy for me?"

Easy?

For him?

It had to be a joke, right?

It had to be.

"Easy for you? Do you know how hard I worked this past month for you to just... not care and screw my friend? Come on, George! You said you’d be there! You said you'd be the first person I’d see and..."

"Can you stop thinking about yourself for one second?"

My eyes widened.

"What?"

"That's right," George's tone was now cold, his eyes distant — "Do you know how hard I tried? Even while watching my fiancée give attention to everything except me! You always do this, Claire! You always focus on your projects, and when this d*mn ball came around? It ruined everything even more!"

Ruined?

He had to be kidding, right?

D*mn it... I...

I needed to get out of there.

"Claire, don’t you dare!" George tried to stop me, but I had already made it through the door, escaping to the garden, hiding like a cowardly rat.

"How pathetic..." I sobbed, the tears finally streaming down my face — "I can’t believe this, I... Claire LeBlanc was cheated on? This must... be a joke."

I laughed at my own misery until I heard footsteps approaching.

Sh*t.

Seriously?

"Please, don’t let it be George," I prayed with all my heart, but... it wasn’t him.

It was, in fact, a tall man, blonde with eyes as beautiful as topaz, and a concerned expression on his face.

Well, great!

I’ve been single for a few minutes, and this is how I meet the first handsome man I come across.

Well done, Claire...

Chapter 02

CLAIRE LEBLANC

"Are you okay?" were the first words I heard coming from those pink lips, as his body crouched down to meet me at eye level. "Here... you need this more than I do."

The blonde handed me a white handkerchief after speaking, one with embroidered edges, along with a 'G'.

"Thank you..." I said, feeling guilty for staining it with my mascara, "I... I'm sorry about this..."

"It's fine, there are about... twenty more of these at home," he replied casually, "but... what made you cry? Broken heart?"

I sighed.

"How did you guess?" I asked before blowing my nose.

"It was just a hunch." He shrugged. "Want to talk about it? I swear I'm a great listener, and I won’t tell anyone."

I shrugged back.

What did I have to lose at this point?

"I got cheated on," I said without any filter, no longer caring about my etiquette lessons or the manners I was always expected to have in societ