The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 129

Aveline

My head snapped toward the sound. The voice was a silken blade, and before I could even begin to process the malice behind it, a gasp of pure joy erupted beside me.

"Miss Sera!" Ryan's delighted voice practically bounced off the walls. "What are you doing here? Did you come to see our art wall? We just put up new paintings!"

I took my time studying Sera as she stood framed in my doorway like some kind of designer-clad avenging angel. She'd clearly raided her entire wardrobe for maximum impact—a blood-red Valentino dress that probably cost more than most people's cars, makeup applied with the precision of a war paint artist, and enough confidence radiating from her to power a small city.

But it was the look in her eyes when she focused on me that made everything crystal clear. Pure, undiluted hostility wrapped in a deceptively sweet smile.

"Actually, sweetie," I said to Ryan, keeping my voice light, "I think Miss Sera is here on grown-up business. Why don't you go find Tommy and see if he wants to trade Pokemon cards?"

"Ooh, good idea!" Ryan's face lit up. "Bye, Miss Sera! Maybe next time you can see my finger painting of a dragon!"

The moment his sneakers squeaked away down the hall, it was like someone had turned off all the warmth in the room.

And apparently turned on the gossip radar for every teacher within a fifty-foot radius.

"Holy shit," I heard Sarah's stage whisper from the hallway, "is that really Seraphina Ashford?"

"The Ashford Group princess herself," Jennifer confirmed in what she probably thought was a quiet voice. "Her daddy basically owns half of Manhattan."

"This is better than reality TV," added someone I couldn't see.

*Great,* I thought. *Nothing like a public spectacle to start the day.*

Instead of dispersing like normal people, my colleagues seemed to be gathering like sharks scenting blood in the water. I caught sight of Olivia practically pressing herself against the doorframe, her eyes bright with malicious anticipation.

Sera stepped fully into my office with the kind of predatory grace usually reserved for runway models and apex predators.

"Ms. Reeves," she said, and I had to give her credit—her voice carried exactly the right note of polite authority. "I was hoping we could have a little chat. About Orion."

The collective gasp from the hallway was so dramatic it could have been choreographed.

*Oh, fantastic,* I thought irritably. *Thanks a lot, Orion. Your "romantic" gestures just turned my workplace into a soap opera.*

I settled back in my chair and picked up my coffee mug, taking a leisurely sip before responding.

"Ryan's father sends flowers to thank his teacher, and suddenly everyone thinks there's a story," I said with deliberate boredom. "How disappointing that must be for you."

Sera's smile sharpened to something that could cut glass. "Oh, please. We both know this is about more than gratitude."

She moved closer to my desk, placing her perfectly manicured hands on the back of the chair across from me.

"He's completely smitten with you. Which is... unfortunate. Because frankly, darling, you're not right for him."

*When did he supposedly fall for me? Because I'm pretty sure I missed that memo.* I thought, barely suppressing an eye roll. *Oh wait, let me guess—you got shot down and your precious ego can't handle it, so naturally it must be my fault. How perfectly classic.*

The whispers from the hallway grew more excited. I could practically feel their anticipation crackling through the air.

"Hmm," I said thoughtfully, setting down my mug. "And I suppose you're here to tell me who would be right for him? Let me guess—blonde, twenty, and conveniently sitting right in front of me?"

A flush crept up Sera's neck, but she held her ground. "I'm here to suggest that you stop playing games with a good man's feelings."

"Games?" I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of games are we talking about exactly?"

"Oh, don't give me that innocent act." Sera's voice rose slightly, and I could see her carefully constructed composure starting to crack. "You know exactly what you're doing. The whole 'mysterious older woman' routine. Acting all reluctant and hard to get while secretly loving every minute of the attention."

I heard several sharp intakes of breath from the hallway. Apparently calling the entire teaching staff professional gold-diggers wasn't winning her any friends.

"I mean, look at this ridiculous display!" She gestured dramatically at the flowers covering my desk. "Look at how you had poor Ryan practically begging you to say yes to his father's invitation! The way you hesitated just long enough to make it seem like you might refuse—that's textbook manipulation!"

The energy in the hallway shifted noticeably. Nothing cleared a room quite like being insulted by a spoiled rich girl.

I stood up slowly, smoothing down my skirt with deliberate care.

"So what you're really saying," I said, my voice taking on the kind of sweet tone that should have served as a warning, "is that the only possible reason Orion might not be interested in you... is me?"

Bull's-eye. Sera's composure cracked like a dropped mirror.

"What else could it be?" she snapped, all pretense of politeness evaporating. "You must have done something. Used some kind of... I don't know, middle-aged desperation technique. Because honestly, what could you possibly offer that I can't?"

She looked me up and down with obvious disdain. "You're what, thirty-five? Forty? At least a decade older than me, working a job that probably pays less than I spend on shoes in a month."

The comment hit like a physical slap, and before my rational mind could intervene, my hand was moving across the space between us, connecting with her cheek in a sharp crack that echoed through the suddenly silent office.

"You know what?" I said, my voice deadly quiet. "I was trying to be understanding. I thought you were just hurt and confused. But apparently, you really did come here looking for a fight."

Sera pressed her hand to her reddening cheek, her eyes blazing with fury and—if I wasn't mistaken—a hint of tears.

"You have no idea who you're messing with," she hissed, leaning close enough that I could smell her expensive perfume. "I know all about women like you. Climbing your way up with degrees and designer knockoffs, thinking you're so sophisticated."

Her voice dropped to a venomous whisper. "I bet you have quite the reputation in Europe, don't you? All those 'cultural exchanges' and 'business partnerships.' How many married men fell for your academic act over there?"

*Interesting.* She'd clearly done some homework, but not nearly enough.

"Here's the thing," she continued, her confidence returning as she saw what she interpreted as uncertainty in my expression. "My father's company has offices all over Switzerland. I'm going to find out everything about your sordid little European adventure. Every scandal, every affair, every dirty little secret."

I looked at her for a long moment, then started to laugh. Not a bitter laugh or a sarcastic chuckle, but genuine amusement.

"Oh, sweetheart," I said, wiping an imaginary tear from my eye. "Please do. I'll save you some time—everything you find will be perfectly legal, completely above board, and probably a lot more impressive than you're expecting."

The confidence drained from Sera's face like air from a punctured balloon.

"But while you're playing private investigator," I continued, returning to my desk and casually rearranging the flowers, "you might want to ask yourself why a man who could have anyone is choosing to pursue a "middle-aged" teacher instead of a beautiful young heiress."

I looked up at her with mock sympathy. "That must be a real blow to the ego."