Overnight Heiress

"Paul and Maria have been running the company for years, but now that all the assets are yours, everyone is expecting you to step up and present yourself." Cole said to me as he led me back to my room.

I paused for a moment at the threshold of the door, not sure whether to laugh or cry. "Wait, so... you're telling me I have to go to work at the company now? Handle a company?"

Cole glanced at me, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "That's right. You can't avoid it forever. You're the face now."

I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Taking care of the estate, okay, I probably could do that. But a company? "Are you sure it's necessary for me to show up there? I mean, Paul and Maria can keep running the business, right? I'll just stay out of the way, less trouble for everyone."

"You could do that," Cole replied with a shrug, stepping into the room with me. "But that would make you a coward."

I blinked at him, caught off guard by the harshness in his tone. "A coward?"

Cole leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "Mr. Caldwell gave you everything for a reason, Astrid," he explained, his voice softening just slightly. "If he wanted his family to keep running his finances, he would've left everything to them. But he didn't."

I stared at him, unsure of what to think. "But I don't even know how to run a company.

"That's why I've assigned a professional team to guide you," Cole reassured me, his eyes locking with mine. "You don't have to do much. Trust me."

I let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through my hair. "And I have to do this today?" I asked, a little part of me hoping he'd say no.

"We don't have the luxury of waiting. The press is already gearing up to release the news."

My stomach twisted. "The press?"

Cole smirked, clearly amused at my reaction. "Astrid, a billionaire dies and leaves his entire fortune to his 23-year-old caregiver. You don't think that's newsworthy?"

I swallowed hard. "I… I didn't think it would be this big."

"Well, it is. This is your life now." His tone softened just a little. "I'll send up breakfast. After that, you'll get dressed. It's going to be a long day. Hell, it's going to be a long year." He turned to leave, throwing one last glance over his shoulder. "Better get used to it."

And with that, he was gone.

I sank onto the bed, my heart hammering.

Press? News? A fucking company?

God… what had I gotten myself into?

---

Minutes later, a knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. The door opened, and two maids walked in carrying armfuls of designer gowns and power suits, placing them carefully on the velvet chaise. A third maid followed, wheeling in a breakfast tray with fresh croissants, eggs, smoked salmon, and a selection of teas and fruit juices.

Everything smelled divine, but I barely had an appetite.

"Mr. Donovan instructed us to bring you these options," one of the maids said. "Would you like to try something on?"

I glanced at the luxurious outfits, my fingers grazing the fabric of a deep emerald suit. It was sleek, powerful, the kind of outfit a CEO would wear—but was that me?

I exhaled. "I'll wear this one."

The maids helped me get ready then dressed, adjusting the fit until it was flawless. They styled my hair into soft waves and applied light makeup, making me look effortlessly polished.

By the time I was ready, I barely recognized myself in the mirror.

Then came the sound of a car pulling up.

My nerves spiked.

---

The convoy waiting outside was intimidating. Black SUVs lined the driveway, security stationed at every corner.

But it wasn't the sight of the cars or the guards that made my breath hitch.

It was Cole.

He stood beside the open door of the Rolls Royce, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean frame. The crisp white shirt beneath contrasted sharply against his bronzed skin, and the dark tie he wore added an air of effortless authority. He looked… breathtaking. Like he had just stepped out of some high-fashion magazine, only better—more real, more dangerous.

And the way he was looking at me…

His usual composed expression faltered for just a moment, his eyes darkening as they swept over me from head to toe. He didn't speak, but the slow way his gaze lingered on my figure said more than words ever could.

For the first time since this whirlwind began, I felt like I had the upper hand.

I tilted my chin slightly, arching a brow. "Something wrong?"

Cole blinked, his lips pressing into a firm line as if forcing himself to snap out of it. "No." His voice was rougher than usual, his posture a little too rigid. "You just clean up well."

I smirked. "So do you."

His eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he said nothing, simply holding the door open for me.

I hesitated for half a second before stepping past him, acutely aware of his presence, of the heat rolling off him in waves.

This was going to be a long ride.

"You can do this," he said, interrupting my thoughts, his voice low.

I swallowed, stepping inside. The door shut behind me, locking me into the reality of what was about to happen.

Cole slid in beside me, his presence taking up too much space, too much air.

I turned to him. "What if I mess up?"

His lips curled into a smirk. "Then you fake it until you don't."

I sighed. "Not helpful."

"Listen," he said, leaning slightly closer, his scent—clean, expensive, intoxicating—filling the space between us. "You don't need to have all the answers. Stand tall. Look confident. Speak with certainty, even if you're terrified inside."

"That easy, huh?" I muttered.

He chuckled, his voice dropping to something almost teasing. "You'd be surprised what confidence—and the right amount of arrogance—can do."

I stared out the tinted window, my reflection barely hiding my nerves.

"What if… what if we just turn the car around?" I suggested, half-serious.

Cole's gaze darkened, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Nice try, sweetheart."

I shifted uncomfortably, aware of the heat between us, the tension crackling in the confined space.

"Breathe," he murmured. "Own this moment."

I let out a slow breath.

And then, we arrived.