A Billionaire Next Door

Kaitlyn Rhodes has everything under control - her thriving event design business, her chic apartment in Pinewood Estate, and a carefully curated life that leaves no room for chaos. But control shatters the morning a phone call changes everything. Her company is suddenly on the verge of collapse, thanks to a scandal she didn't see coming. And before she can find her footing, an unexpected proposition arrives from the last man she ever thought would notice her - Miles Howard. The elusive billionaire CEO of Howard & Co. Corporate is as infamous for his ruthless deals as he is for his guarded heart. To the world, Miles is untouchable. But behind the tailored suits and cold precision lies a man with everything to lose... and a secret plan to save it. His offer? A marriage of convenience. His reason? Business. His real motive? Something he's not ready to admit. Drawn into his world of power, luxury, and dangerous rivalries, Kaitlyn finds herself walking a razor's edge between independence and desire. The more time she spends in Miles's orbit, the harder it is to tell where the arrangement ends... and something far more real begins. In a city of secrets, one thing becomes clear: in love and business, nothing stays purely transactional for long.

Chapters

Chapter 1

Ch. 1 - Picture Perfect Morning

KAILYN

The sharp beeping of my alarm clock wakes me. This morning should have felt like any other, but something in the air made it lighter. Calmer. Almost hopeful. The sun casts its rays on me, discomforting me and forcing me out of bed. You would think I would've gotten used to it by now, but I haven't. I twist and turn in my bed, and then finally I get up and dress in my pink sports bra, nude biker shorts, and black workout shoes with my hair packed up in a ponytail for my morning run.

I run around Pinewood Estate until my watch buzzes, notifying me that I've hit my morning goal. The road curves slightly, and the large homes of my neighborhood start to appear from the morning haze. Each one sits back from the street like a preening debutante, eager to be admired but keeping a careful distance. I know each property by heart: the Hendersons with their many lawn ornaments, the Wilsons with their always under-construction pool house, and then-there it is-the sweeping curve of grey stone that marks Miles Howard's driveway.

Miles Howard. Billionaire. New York's Most Eligible Bachelor.And, lucky me, my untouchable neighbour. He's walking out of his house to a black Audi PB18 e-Tron, with his phone like a prisoner in his hands, his eyes meet mine, only for a second before they return to his screen. He has always intrigued me, always so mysterious and puzzling, and something about that excites me.

I'm back in the apartment, and the scent of a familiar vanilla fills my nostrils. "Alexa, play Kill Bill by SZA." "Playing Kill Bill by SZA." she responds while I make my way into the bathroom. Hot water droplets flow down my body, accompanied by the soft net of my soapy loofah. Beep... Beep... Beep... The sound of my phone ringing fills my ears as the music stops, and the screen lights up with Rose Ivanov's contact filling it. "Oh, it's very early. I wonder what she's calling about," I thought. Rose Ivanov, married to Damon Ivanov, a man with so much power, he makes the rest of us seem like green pants in the food chain-no matter how high up you are, and I am HIGH. I slide my fingers in favour of answering the phone call

"Hi Kaitlyn, I loved yesterday's event so much. Honestly, I was a little skeptical about how it would go, but you showed me that my investment in you was worthwhile. Everyone last night wanted to know where I got my dres from." I could feel her smile through the screen that divides us.

"Good morning, Rose, I'm so happy you liked it. It's always a pleasure hearing a good review from a client personally."

"Thank you, Kaitlyn. I'll stay in touch."

"Goodbye!"

I walk into my walk-in closet designed like a boutique with soft blush walls, gold hardware, and crystal chandeliers that spill light across racks. I pull out a wine-red blouse and black work pants which hug my body in the right places, pairing them with my black Louboutin heels and a black Louis Vuitton handbag. I apply minimal makeup, focusing mainly on my lips and eyes.

As I work on my laptop, I hear a knock on the glass door of my office. "Come in." I announce with my eyes still on my laptop. I look up as the doors open

Miss Miller, Head of Sales, stepped in. Her feet tremble as she walks up to me.

"Well? What do you have for me?" I ask her

"I'm afraid it's bad news", she says back in dismay.

"Spit it out!" I exclaim, getting antsy.

She hands me a brown envelope labelled IMPORTANT. I peel open the envelope, revealing the files in it. Reading them, I feel a burst of worry about the company, about everything I've built crashing down. "Why didn't I get a notice of the sales going down? Why wasn't I informed?" I ask calmly, not letting the worry show up on my face, and I crack my knuckles, trying to stop a stream of tears from falling from my face. "We only just noticed the significant drop this morning," She says as she bows her head, not maintaining eye contact. "Then why do you have this job if you don't report something as significant as this?" I ask with my voice thick and my tone leaving no room for negotiation. "You're dismissed." My heartbeat becomes more rushed as I can hear them loudly. I fidget with my necklace as I try to calm myself down from having a panic attack.

I pick up my phone, head to my favourite, and as I dial my best friend's number, she picks up on the third ring.

"Kaitlyn, Hiii," She says bubbly

"..."

"Kaitlyn, are you okay? Are you fine?" Concern paints her voice

"No, Ari, I'm not. Everything's falling apart." Tears roll down my face as my voice cracks up

"What happened?" She asks in a panic

"My sales are dropping drastically, and I have no idea why."

"I may have seen a reason why on TikTok, I didn't send it to you cause I thought it was just another petty rise to fame scheme. I'll send it right now."

"Ping!" The sound echoes through the room, and I open it. Mine and Aria's message fills the screen, and I open the video file she sent. A text appears on the screen: "The Truth About Kaitlyn Rhodes." I listen to what she has to say, finding what she has to say wrong and confusing.

"How could anyone even believe that? None of what she's saying is true. Arghh!" I type into our chat

"I have no idea, and over 24million views and 14million likes. It's honestly crazy."How about we calm down and then look for ways we can solve this, but firstly, we have to get your mind off it." She replies.

Continue to next part

For three years, she lived as a devoted wife, only to be met with a cold divorce from her husband. However, the end of her marriage marks the beginning of her true ascent. Shedding her modest persona, she reclaims her hidden identity as the sole heiress to a massive fortune. Now a powerful billionaire, she navigates high society and professional rivalries, proving that her worth was never defined by the man who chose to walk away.

Billionaire Modern Romance

8.5

Betrayed Wife's Escape After Husband's Cruel Deception

8.5

After three years of a hollow marriage, Aria discovers her billionaire husband, Silas, only wed her to secure his inheritance. When his true love returns, he demands a divorce, revealing his cold-hearted betrayal. Devastated by his cruelty and the realization that their life together was a lie, Aria chooses to disappear. She fakes her own death to escape his shadow, seeking a fresh start away from the man who shattered her heart and trust.

Billionaire Modern Romance

8.3

Divorce After Husband's Betrayal

8.3

After three years of a seemingly perfect marriage, a devoted wife's world shatters when she discovers her billionaire husband has been unfaithful. Faced with his cold betrayal, she chooses to reclaim her dignity by demanding a divorce. As she transitions from a supportive spouse to an independent woman, she must navigate the complexities of high-society heartbreak and legal battles, ultimately finding the strength to start a new life.

Billionaire Modern Romance

8.1

Fiancé's Affair & Asset Theft

8.1

On the eve of her wedding, a young woman discovers her fiancé’s betrayal and his plot to seize her inheritance. Faced with total ruin and a shattered heart, she seeks an unlikely alliance with a powerful, cold-hearted billionaire. Driven by a burning desire for justice, she maneuvers through high society’s shadows to reclaim her stolen life. This tale of revenge and unexpected passion follows her journey to destroy those who wronged her.

Billionaire Modern Romance

7.5

His Betrayal Forged Her Empire

7.5

I run my family's political dynasty with an iron fist. From my father’s Senate votes to my own calculated engagement, every move is mine to control. Then, in a single evening, my ambitious stepmother made her play. She used our housekeeper as a spy and orchestrated a scandal involving my fiancé and stepsister, designed to shatter my reputation and power. They thought they could break me. Within twelve hours, the spy was dead on the marble floor of my foyer. My fiancé’s family was blackmailed into silence. My stepsister was exiled to a Swiss boarding school, and I stripped my own father of his authority for his weakness. As for my stepmother, Bronte, I had her declared mentally unstable and forcibly taken to a remote facility in Montana, completely cut off from the world. Everyone saw a cold-hearted coup, but they didn't know the secret I held. I had proof that Bronte had systematically orchestrated my brother’s death years ago, all to position her own son to inherit everything. This wasn't about power; it was vengeance. But winning the war at home has put me on a much deadlier board. Now, I'm preparing for a dinner with Eldridge Marsh—the most dangerous man in Washington—who wants to decide if I'm a player he can use, or a threat he needs to destroy.

Action Billionaire Modern

7.2

Midas Protocol: Seducing My Rival's Wife

7.2

I sat in the freezing conference room, my knuckles white as I strangled a cheap plastic pen. Outside, Manhattan was weeping in the gray rain, but inside, the air was sterile and dead. I stared at the polished mahogany table, seeing the distorted reflection of a man who hadn't slept in forty-eight hours—a man about to sign his own divorce papers. Across from me, my wife Linda wouldn't even look at me. She was too busy drumming her fingers near a diamond ring that cost more than I had made in the last five years combined. Then the door swung open, and Simon Thorne walked in. The billionaire heir didn't say a word; he just walked behind Linda and placed a heavy, possessive hand on her shoulder, marking her as his. "Let's wrap this up," Simon said, checking his Patek Philippe with the bored tone of a man ordering a coffee he didn't want. Linda finally looked through me like I was a ghost and told me to stop dragging this out. She whispered that I couldn't even afford myself anymore, a physical punch to the gut given I’d lost my job three weeks ago. After I signed, Simon flicked a business card at me, mockingly offering me a job as a doorman for minimum wage. I walked out into the downpour, shivering in a suit I couldn't afford to dry clean. My phone vibrated with a text from my landlord: "Pack your things. Keys by tonight or I’m calling the cops." I stood on the corner of 5th Avenue with exactly $42.18 to my name, watching Simon kiss my wife through the glass wall of the penthouse. I was thirty, homeless, and drowning in a city of lions. I wanted to roar until my throat bled, but I just stood there, a drowned rat in a world of predators. How could I have lost everything so fast? Why was the woman who promised to stay through "for poorer" now leaning into the arms of the man who just humiliated me? Suddenly, my phone screen exploded with a blinding golden light. An app called the Midas Protocol installed itself, declaring poverty a disease and itself the cure. With one tap, a million dollars bypassed a federal hold and hit my account, and a "Nemesis Card" appeared in my digital inventory. I didn't hesitate. I typed Simon Thorne’s name into the vengeance algorithm and hit execute. The game had officially changed.

Billionaire Modern Romance

A Billionaire Next Door

Chapter 1

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