The Billionaire's Heir I Never Knew Was Mine

Ava stepped closer and grabbed Belinda’s hand.

"I know you’re hiding something, Belinda..." Her voice softened, but the urgency remained. "Yesterday, Sienna texted me saying she was at the police station. When I tried calling her, I couldn’t reach her... and till now I still can’t."

Belinda froze in shock, only for a second. But Ava’s observant nature didn’t miss noticing the sudden jolt in her emotion.

"Ava, please stop asking me about her," Belinda said quickly in her low tone as if worried someone might hear her. "I don’t know anything. Maybe she didn’t want you calling her. That’s why she turned off her phone."

Ava was utterly speechless upon hearing her excuse. She knew this woman was avoiding the conversation.

"Belinda," Ava said, struggling to hide her frustration, "please stop hiding this."

"Please leave," Belinda said without looking at her.

Ava’s chest tightened.

"Tell me what really happened yesterday," Ava said firmly, tightening her grip on Belinda’s hand. "And tell me which police station they took her to. I beg you—"

Belinda looked like she was about to say something. Still, before a single word could leave her mouth, another voice suddenly interrupted the tense moment.

"Ava, no need to ask her."

Ava turned sharply.

"Riley, you’re finally here."

Relief flashed briefly across her face, but the worry sitting heavily inside her chest had not disappeared. "What about Sienna?" she asked immediately. "Did you find something?"

A faint smile appeared on Riley’s face, but unlike his usual relaxed expression, this one carried a colder edge.

"Someone might silence her... She won’t speak the truth," he said casually, glancing at Belinda. "So asking her is pointless."

Belinda’s expression stiffened.

"What do you mean?" Ava asked, confused.

But Riley did not answer her directly. Instead, he tilted his head toward the elevator.

"Come. Let’s go upstairs."

"Upstairs?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Ava stared at him in confusion. She knew perfectly well which floor the CEO’s office was on.

’Wait... Why did he want to go to the CEO’s office?’ Ava thought.

Even while puzzled, she followed him toward the elevator.

"Do you know someone upstairs?"

"Yes," Riley responded to her as he pressed the elevator button.

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Who?"

The elevator doors opened, and Riley stepped inside first, then turned back toward her.

"Zoey Sterling."

Ava was stunned. Too surprised to hear his answer, because this man no longer works at this hotel. How could he meet their CEO? Zoey Sterling?

"Ava... come in. I need to ask her directly!"

She remained standing outside for another second. She simply stared at him.

’Did I hear that correctly? Riley wanted to ask Zoey Sterling?’

She looked at Riley again, trying to decide whether he had finally lost his mind from lack of sleep.

"Do you know her?" Ava asked, in disbelief, as she stepped into the elevator. "Can you just meet her anytime like this? Riley, even I would need to make an appointment if I wanted to meet our CEO."

Riley did not answer. Instead, he grabbed her arm lightly and pulled her fully inside before the elevator doors closed.

"Stop asking! Follow me..." he said calmly. "We don’t have much time. We need information to find Sienna."

The reminder instantly pulled Ava back into reality. Her worry returned immediately. She stopped arguing and stood quietly beside Riley as the elevator climbed toward the fifteenth floor.

She crossed her arms and shot another suspicious glance at Riley. He looked far too comfortable for someone visiting the CEO’s office without an appointment.

The elevator doors finally opened on the fifteenth floor. The place had an entirely different atmosphere from the rest of the hotel; it felt quieter and more intimidating.

Before Ava could gather herself, Riley casually walked ahead as though the place belonged to him.

"Leah, is your boss inside?"

Leah looked up from her desk. "R-Riley?" She stood so quickly her chair almost rolled backward. "Why are you here?" she added.

Ignoring the question completely, Riley headed straight toward the CEO’s office.

"Wait— wait, Riley!" Leah hurried after him.

But it was too late.

Riley had already opened the office door and walked inside without permission.

Ava’s eyes widened in shock. ’Oh God, Riley had no fear. Or maybe... he no longer cared whether security would throw him out of the building?’

Still, she had already followed him this far. She could only rush in behind him.

Inside the office, Zoey sat behind her desk reviewing several documents. The sudden interruption made her lift her head sharply.

Visible surprise crossed her face when she saw Riley standing there.

"Riley—?"

"Sorry to disturb you, but I need to ask you about something." His tone was unusually serious.

Zoey stared at him for a brief second before standing from her chair.

"Riley. Why are you here?" she asked calmly. "I thought you were still roaming Europe, doing God knows what."

Ava blinked, shocked to see their CEO actually know Riley. And the way she talks to Riley, she’s not just known him. Her tone implied that he was a family member or a close friend.

Riley’s expression remained cold.

"Where’s Sienna? Why did the police arrest her yesterday?" He asked.

Shock flashed briefly across Zoey’s face at his question. But it disappeared almost immediately. Her composure returned so quickly.

Then, Zoey motioned toward the seating area.

"Take a seat first." She said as she walked toward the sofa area.

But Riley did not move. He remained standing exactly where he was, staring at her sharply.

The tension inside the office grew heavier.

Zoey stopped walking and turned to face him fully. Then she sighed softly. "Don’t worry," she said calmly. "She’s safe."

Both Riley and Ava looked stunned.

"What do you mean?" Riley asked immediately.

Zoey smiled faintly before walking back toward him and stopping two steps away.

"Someone helped her out of the police station," she said. "So, Sienna... your friend is safe."

Riley’s shoulders loosened slightly. But another question immediately followed.

"Who helped her?" Riley asked.

Zoey smiled again. That calm, unreadable smile that somehow made people even more suspicious.

"Well... that I can’t answer."

Riley frowned. "Aunty—"

"Try calling Sienna," Zoey interrupted smoothly. "She’ll tell you where she is and who’s helping her."