The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 96: Sia’s Doubt

"Please Sir have mercy" Mr Johnson begged.

There was a long, heavy silence.

Ford’s voice lowered but was still filled with warning. "And now... you ask me for mercy?"

"I’m not surprised," Ford muttered coldly, his voice flat and emotionless. Without saying another word, he leaned slightly forward and picked up the black telephone on his desk. His fingers moved swiftly as he dialed a number.

A short silence followed before he spoke again, this time into the receiver. "Come and escort Mr. Johnson out. He has nothing more to say."

With a click, he returned the phone to its place, his face still calm but unreadable. There was no trace of pity, no softness in his voice, only authority and finality.

A few seconds later, the heavy wooden door to his office creaked open slowly. A security guard stepped inside. He was fully dressed in a dark blue uniform, a cap resting neatly on his head, and a badge pinned to his chest. He gave Ford a respectful bow before turning toward Mr. Johnson.

"Let’s leave, sir," the guard said gently, though his tone left no room for argument.

Mr. Johnson, his pride shattered and heart heavy, looked down at the floor. His feet felt like stones as he took a step forward. Before he could fully leave, Ford lifted his head again, his eyes sharp and firm.

"Oh yes," he added sternly. "Mr. Johnson, wait for my reply. Until then, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t come around here again."

His tone was calm, but his message was clear with all seriousness.

With his face pale and full of embarrassment, Mr. Johnson nodded slightly and followed the guard out of the room. He didn’t speak another word. The humiliation was enough to silence him.

The moment the door shut behind them with a soft thud, the office returned to silence. Ford sat back in his chair and leaned his head against the headrest. A deep sigh escaped his lips but just then, his phone vibrated gently on the desk.

Lifting it, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he saw a notification. It was a message from an unknown number, accompanied by a photo.

He opened it.

"Hi darling, hope I’m not disturbing? It’s my new line. Cooking dinner, can’t wait for your return."

It was Elena. She had sent him a picture of herself in the kitchen, wearing a light pink apron with her hair tied into a messy bun. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat, and there was flour on her nose. She looked adorable, so full of life and warmth.

Ford’s stern face softened instantly. His eyes lit up, and a genuine smile spread across his lips. For a moment, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter. He quickly replied with a heart emoji and a short message filled with affection.

But the peace didn’t last.

A loud, disturbing noise came from just outside the door, voices raised, followed by a shuffle. Ford’s brows furrowed in irritation. What now? he thought.

Just then, the door flew open without warning. Two women stormed in, surprising even his usually composed secretary, who ran behind them, her voice panicked.

"Please, ma’am, hold on!"

Before Ford could fully register what was happening, his eyes locked on the second woman.

His heart skipped.

His lips moved, barely forming the word.

"Sia..." he whispered in disbelief, almost speechless.

Staring at him directly in the eyes, she smiled.

"Am sorry Sir , she wouldn’t let me inform you before bagging in here" the sectary explained to her boss in fear.

"It’s alright. Let her be," Ford said calmly, gesturing lightly to his secretary, who stood frozen in confusion and fear. His voice was controlled, soft even, but it carried a weight that told her he wasn’t pleased.

The secretary, caught between duty and uncertainty, hesitated for a second before nodding and stepping away. Her eyes lingered on the unexpected guest before she finally bowed politely and closed the door behind her.

Sia hadn’t changed at all.

She walked into the room like she owned the place, her heels tapping confidently against the polished floor, her eyes sparkling with the same mischief Ford remembered all too well. Her lipstick was bold red, and her black, form-fitting dress gave her an air of glamour and danger all at once.

But Ford knew her well enough to see through the mask. Behind that confident smile and seductive sway, there was something else—uncertainty. Even fear.

"Hello, baby," she said with a soft laugh, seating herself directly across from him like it was a casual visit. "It’s been a long time. I believe you must have forgotten me by now but don’t worry, I’ve always had you in mind." Her voice was smooth, almost teasing, like a siren’s song. "So, baby, how have you been?"

Ford didn’t respond right away. He pressed his palms tightly beneath the table, his knuckles turning pale from the force. A scoff escaped his lips, dry and sharp, as he leaned back in his chair and adjusted the distance between them. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were fixed on her. Not blinking. Not wavering.

He studied her.

She was trying too hard to look bold. Her back was straight, her chin held high, but Ford saw it, the subtle tremble in her hand when she pushed back a strand of hair, the way her eyes darted briefly toward the door, and the forced curve of her lips. She was putting on a show, and Ford was the audience she feared.

"What brings you here?" he asked, his tone cool and firm. "The last time I checked, we had no meeting scheduled."

He slowly swiveled his chair from left to right, his body relaxed but his voice sharp with meaning. His serious face made it clear: this wasn’t a friendly visit.

Sia tilted her head and smiled wider, acting unfazed. "You haven’t answered my question. Are we having issues?" she said sweetly as she stood up and walked to his side. She moved with careful grace, like a cat ready to pounce or retreat.

She gently lifted his hand and placed it on her waist, leaning in closer. "Oh baby, are you still mad at me?" she whispered, her eyes searching his for any sign of softness, of forgiveness.

Ford remained still. His hand stayed on her waist, but he didn’t hold her. His eyes were cold.

What Sia didn’t say out loud weighed heavier than her flirtatious words. She had her doubts. Deep ones. She didn’t know for sure whether Ford had discovered the truth that she was the one who paid the press to ruin Elena’s reputation, making sure Elena’s name appeared in scandalous headlines. She had tried to cover her tracks but she still feared.

That’s why she came today. Not just to seduce or reconnect, but to observe. To study Ford’s reactions. To see if he knew. And now, with the tension in his body and the storm behind his calm eyes, Sia was beginning to realize: he just might know everything.

Despite her bold attitude and flirtatious words, Sia couldn’t ignore the fact that Ford was incredibly hard to read. His face remained calm, composed almost too composed. Not a single smile or flicker of warmth crossed his expression. He didn’t yell or show obvious anger, but that made it worse. He was distant. Emotionless. And that told her everything she needed to know: Ford was not happy to see her. Still, she needed more than that. She needed him to give something away, some hint that he knew the truth. She wanted to see it in his eyes. A crack in his wall.

Ford finally looked at her directly. His voice was clear, firm, and distant as he said, "Sia, like I already told you, we don’t have an appointment. And as you can see, I’m very busy." He gestured slightly toward the files on his desk, neatly stacked beside his laptop. "I believe our families are supposed to meet this weekend, so if you’d kindly allow me to return to my work, I’d appreciate that."

As he spoke, he removed his hand from her waist. The gesture was cold and deliberate.

With a smooth motion, he pushed his chair closer to the table, signaling that the conversation was over. He picked up a document and pretended to focus on it, his eyes moving across the page. A small, almost mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips but it wasn’t a friendly smile. It was a knowing one. Ford knew Sia too well. He wasn’t fooled by her charms or her sudden visit. He was sure she came for answers, but he wasn’t about to give them to her so easily.

Sia frowned. Her face tightened slightly at his refusal. It was clear he wasn’t going to budge. He had already shut her out, and the door she was trying to push open had just slammed in her face. But she wasn’t ready to give up yet.

"Guess what?" she said suddenly, her voice sharp but cheerful. Her lips stretched into a confident smile, though her eyes still held a flicker of challenge.

Ford didn’t respond. He didn’t even look up. He had gone back to pretending she wasn’t there.

Still, she continued, "I know who’s behind everything that happened to Elena."

That sentence cut through the air like a knife.

Ford froze. He turned immediately, his eyes locking onto hers with shock. His expression changed for the first time since she entered. He was surprised genuinely.

"What do you mean?" he asked quickly, his calm mask finally cracking wondering what she meant. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Sia leaned back into her chair with satisfaction, her smile widening as she saw the change in him. "Oh, finally," she said with a laugh. "I got your attention."