The Billionaire And His Son Want Me Back by Juliette Vaughan

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

In the CEO's office at Vanderbilt Group, the atmosphere was thick, the air heavy with tension. The pressure hung like a storm cloud, threatening to burst at any moment.

Dominick, standing by his desk, slammed a thick stack of papers onto the floor with an almost violent force.

His secretary, visibly shrinking from the anger emanating from him, quickly bent to pick up the scattered papers, her hands trembling slightly as she did so.

"I'll go speak to Mr. Parker right away and have his team redo it..." she stammered, not daring to linger any longer. The moment she straightened, she bolted from the room, her footsteps hurried and frantic. Julian Hale, Dominick's assistant, closed the office door behind the secretary with a quiet click, his eyes lingering on the tall, imposing figure of Dominick standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Dominick's posture was rigid, his brow furrowed in annoyance, and the weight of his frustration seemed to settle in the room like a dense fog.

Julian sighed, leaning against the doorframe, "Mr. Vanderbilt," he began with a knowing look, "this is the sixteenth proposal you've thrown away today. Sixteen. Not one of them has caught your eye?"

Dominick tugged irritably at his tie, his expression darkening. "What's your point?" His voice was sharp, but Julian wasn't intimidated.

Julian's eyes flickered briefly before he spoke again, his voice lowering slightly, "Is it her return that is affecting you?"

"Paisley has no effect on me," Dominick snapped, his tone a little too quick, too defensive.

Julian's lips quirked slightly as he took a slow step forward, unfazed. "I didn't say it was Paisley," he murmured.

Dominick froze for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he caught the glint of amusement or perhaps something deeper in Julian's gaze.

After a beat of silence, Dominick turned away, his frustration boiling over as he yanked the tie from around his neck and tossed it carelessly aside. "You got something to say, or you just want to keep playing games?"

Julian straightened, his demeanor becoming more businesslike. "Actually, I do have something to say," he said, his voice lower now, tinged with a certain level of authority. "I've followed your orders. I've applied pressure on the investors. Ms. Sullivan is officially the lead for that series."

Dominick's expression shifted, his usual icy demeanor slipping back into place. He gave a single, almost imperceptible nod, signaling his acceptance of the news.

"Okay," he said flatly, sitting back down at his desk, the weight of the conversation easing as his attention turned back to the documents in front of him. His gaze, however, was distant, clouded with thoughts that no one could read.

Julian had already turned to leave, but after a brief pause, he couldn't help himself. He turned back and spoke with a slightly more probing tone, "Dom, the way you've been looking out for the Sullivan family... that's because of Paisley, isn't it?"

learned the Sullivans were Paisley's real family-something he hadn't realized before. But now,

eyes narrowed, his expression hardening as he swiftly dismissed the notion. "You're overthinking it," he said,

"Dom, no matter what your reasons are for going out of your way to look

second thought, even abandoning your son. Now she's back, and who knows what her game

who had been friends with Dominick since high school, knew him inside and out and had followed him every

Vanderbilt family legacy had been fierce, and the standards were impossibly high. Dominick

business in high school, expanding it rapidly throughout college, and

entered the company alongside him, serving as his right-hand man. Over the

than usual. He turned abruptly,

latest tabloid headline splashed in bold letters about Dominick and Marissa's relationship scandal. Dominick's expression darkened even further, his tone frigid. "What is all this nonsense? Contact

*****

a milestone, a step toward growing up. But for little Serena, it felt more

and now, for the first time, she was expected to

swallow, but Paisley's words echoed in

and hold back the tears, just like Paisley had taught her. But it was so hard. The absence of her mother and Maria made everything feel cold and empty, and she missed

out of place. She didn't want to play. She didn't want to do anything but go home and curl up next to her mom. But just as the tears began to well up again, something shifted in Serena's gaze. Her big

her voice barely audible but filled with wonder and longing.

*****

the ball with carefree energy, when suddenly he felt someone

irritated, ready to snap at whoever dared disturb him. But what he saw made him pause. A little girl, her eyes wide

Grayson's voice was sharp, a little defensive. He wasn't one for playing with girls, and the only exception was Marissa's niece, Stella-but that was only because he'd promised Marissa he'd

of him.

with excitement as she looked

"I'm not your brother. You've got the wrong guy." He scratched his head,

I'm sure of it," she smiled, the same bright, unwavering smile that seemed

showed a young boy who looked exactly like him. She had asked Paisley who it was, and Paisley had told her that it was Serena's big brother. She remembered

than the picture, but his features

are my brother," Serena said again,

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