Married To The Billionaire Alpha King-Chapter 110 - you paid for

110

~Elara’s POV

I watched Janae step out of my office to carry out the order I gave her, and the moment the door clicked shut, silence filled the room like heavy smoke. I sat there, hands flat on my desk, feeling this strange mix of anger and heartbreak burning in my chest. I couldn’t stop thinking about how our designs were taken from here, from the inside, like someone had reached into my ribs and stolen something from my heart.

My mind kept circling the same thought like a restless bird. How did Lira infiltrate this place? How did she get her hands on something that belonged to me? I didn’t have proof yet, but I knew it was her. I could almost hear her voice in my head, laughing, as if she thought she already won. But she had no idea who I was becoming.

I stood up suddenly and walked to the door. I didn’t want my anger to sit in silence. I needed everyone to hear it.

A few minutes later, the entire design team and senior staff filled the conference room. Their faces held confusion and worry. Some whispered among themselves, and others studied my expression like they were afraid of what I might say.

I walked to the head of the table, feeling all their eyes on me. Janae stood at my side.

"Everyone," I said, my voice steady even though my heart was pounding, "we have a serious breach. Our designs for fashion week were leaked to another company. Someone here did it or helped the person responsible, and I am not going to pretend like this is a small matter."

The room fell silent, and one of the designers shifted nervously.

"I want all of you to understand something clearly," I continued. "This is not just about designs or sketches. It is about trust. It is about respect. It is about people trying to take from me again. I have been quiet for a long time. I have been patient. I have forgiven things I should have fought against. But not this time. The person who did this will face consequences."

A junior designer raised her shaking hand. "Luna... do you think one of us did it intentionally, or maybe it was a mistake..."

"There are no mistakes like this," I replied. "Not at a company like this. Whoever did it knew what they were doing. And I will find them."

Another spoke up, trying to sound confident. "We would never betray you. We are loyal."

I looked around the room. "Then whoever is not loyal will reveal themselves eventually. I promise you that."

I dismissed them, and they left slowly, whispering as they walked out. The moment the door closed, my phone rang.

It was Darlon.

I answered immediately. "Hello."

His voice came warm and steady. "How is it going. Tell me the truth."

I moved to the window, watching cars move across the street outside the building. "It is getting damaged," I admitted. "The company’s name. My work. I feel like everything is slipping."

"Give me the IP address," he said. "I’ll track it myself."

"They couldn’t trace it," I told him quietly. "Whoever did this covered their tracks too well."

I heard him exhale slowly, like he was thinking. "If you want me to step in, I will. Just give the word."

"No," I said. "I need to handle this myself. I have to. I don’t want to run to you every time something breaks. I want to build something with my own hands."

He paused, then his voice softened. "I trust you. And I love you."

"I love you too," I whispered. "Thank you. I’ll call when I know more."

We hung up, and before I could even breathe fully, the office door opened, and Janae walked back inside.

"I set the meeting," she said, catching her breath. "The CEO said he’s waiting for us. We can go now."

"Let’s go." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

We walked to the car together. I didn’t speak because I was trying to quiet the voice inside me that kept saying the betrayal was deeper than I thought. We arrived at the other company’s building in less than twenty minutes. The sign outside read Moonthread Apparel in faded letters. A very small company, barely surviving. Their entrance smelled like cleaning chemicals and old carpet.

When we entered, the receptionist looked surprised and quickly stood. "Luna Elara. Welcome. The CEO is waiting. Please follow me."

She led us down a short hallway. We entered an office where an old man sat behind a desk. He stood immediately, bowing his head.

"Luna Elara," he said, his voice trembling as he shook Janae’s hand. "I never imagined you would come in person. Please, sit."

I didn’t want to sit, but I did.

"I will go straight to the point," I said. "How did you get my designs? Who gave them to you?"

His hands shook as he picked up a document. "I didn’t know they belonged to Blueberries. I swear. Someone contacted me anonymously. They offered the designs in exchange for two billion. They said that with them, I could rebuild my company. I... I thought it was my only chance."

Janae frowned. "You didn’t think to ask where it came from."

He looked ashamed. "I should have. I was blinded by desperation. My company has been dying. I even took loans. If I had known..."

I cut in, my voice tightening. "Who contacted you. Give me a name."

"I do not have a name," he said. "All I have is the number that contacted me to arrange the payment. They said we would speak more after I released the design. But they stopped responding after that."

"They sold you stolen work," I said, standing. "They put a target on your company’s back. And now everything that happens next is on them."

His voice cracked. "I am sorry, Luna. I am so sorry."

Janae leaned closer to whisper, "Ask him to show the number. Maybe we can trace it."

I looked at him again. "Give us the number. All of it. Every message. Every detail."

His hands shook a little as he unlocked his phone. He passed it to me like it was a confession. I scrolled through the messages, short and direct, as if the sender knew exactly what they wanted: money in exchange for the rights to my design. No name. No identity. Just a phone number and instructions that felt cold.

Janae leaned nearer, whispering, "We should try calling it."

I nodded. My stomach tightened. I dialed the number, held the phone to my ear, and listened to it ring once before the automated message cut through.

"This number does not exist."

I pulled the phone away slowly, staring at the screen like maybe it would change if I glared hard enough. I tried again. Same message. Like whoever used it had vanished the moment the deal was done.

The old man swallowed. "They must have used a temporary line. I truly did not know it was stolen. If I had known, I would never..."

"You already did," I said quietly. It wasn’t shouting, it wasn’t anger burning hot. It was colder. Tired. "And now I have to fix what you paid for."

He lowered his head into his hands. "Please, Luna Elara. Let me help. Tell me what to do to make it right."