“No, he doesn’t.”


    “Honestly, I don’t think he looks much like a big boss either,” Ron puffed out his chest, standing


    taller like he wasparing himself. “I mean,e on, look at me. In terms of body and presence,


    how could he everpete with this?”


    I rolled my eyes. “But, like, he’s the one who invested all the money to start thepany, right?”


    “Yup, he’s the real majority shareholder,” Ron said. “Me?” He chuckled, “I may look like I run things,


    but I’m just another glorified employee–same as you and Hayden.”


    His easy, yful tone actually made him seem pretty down–to–earth.


    “Then why doesn’t he run thepany himself?” I asked, still not totally getting it.


    Ron scoffed. “What, are you dense? The guy’s loaded. He owns a bunch ofpanies. Who has


    the time to micromanage all of them?”


    I nced back at the private room door, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the short,


    stocky guy inside was some rich business mogul.


    I’d spent years around the upper crust with the Johnstons, so I knew the big yers. But I’d never


    heard of anyone with thest name Hart being this powerful.


    “You don’t believe me, do you?” Ron saw right through me. “You just haven’t been around long


    enough, that’s all.”


    I stayed quiet.


    “Our boss is the grandson of Chadwick Hart, one of the old coal barons from West Ridge,” Ron


    continued “He might look older than he is, but he’s just over thirty. With the coal business slowing


    down, the Hart family started branching out. Kylian might not look like much, but he’s got brains.”


    Ron tapped his temple for emphasis.


    It was all starting to make sense now.


    Still, I couldn’t help but tease, “West Ridge folks moving in on Seavora, huh? Guess they’ve really


    got their fingers in everything.”


    “Wherever there’s money to be made, they’re on it. And our boss? He’s got investments overseas


    too,” Ron added with a shake of his head. “Bet you didn’t see thating.”


    “Definitely not,” I muttered, biting my lip. “Didn’t expect our big boss to be someone else entirely. I


    thought…”


    “Thought what?” Ron asked, grinning.


    I thought of Hayden’s humble background and decided to keep my suspicions to myself.


    Both named Hart, but in terms of looks and smarts? Hayden outshined Kylian by a mile. But when it


    came to the money? Kylian had the edge, no question.


    “Nothing. Let’s get back inside before we get fired for making the big boss wait,” I joked, and then


    walked


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    back into the private room.


    Ron stopped me. “Ms. Kay, you didn’t think Hayden was…?”


    “No,” I cut him off with a quick smile. “Hayden is just Hayden.”


    “Hayden’s a stock that’s bound to rise,” Ron tossed out before we headed back into the room.


    As I opened the door, I noticed both Hayden and Kylian sitting in silence, staring at each other like


    they’d just had some intense face–off.


    My heart skipped a beat. Had something gone wrong between them already? They barely knew


    each other!


    Sensing the tension, I quickly apologized to Kylian. “Sorry for the interruption.”


    “No worries, take a seat,” Kylian said in his usualid–back tone. For a supposed secret billionaire,


    he sure didn’t act the part.


    2


    Ron strolled in behind me, all blunt honesty as always. I gave Ms. Kay a little rundown about you,


    boss.”


    I froze.


    Seriously? Was he really just going to spill that I’d been asking about Kylian?


    Before I could re at him, Ron was alreadyughing, exining to Kylian, “You have no idea how


    long Ms. Kay has been dying to know more about you. She’s been grilling me for ages, just


    desperate for a glimpse of your brilliance.”


    I was speechless.


    “Really?” Hayden’s voice cut in, and just those two words sent a chill down my spine.


    Ronughed nervously. “Yep! If you don’t believe me, you can ask her yourself.”


    I wanted to throttle him right there. He seriously had zero tact.


    “Let’s get the food started. Keira’s been starving,” Hayden smoothly changed the subject.


    Ron shot a nce at Kylian, who gave a small nod, and Ron pressed the button to call for the


    waitstaff.


    That little exchange pretty much sealed it–Kylian was definitely the big boss. But one question still


    nagged at me.


    Why was Ron more deferential to Hayden than Kylian? Like, even though Kylian was the big boss,


    Ron seemed to treat Hayden with a whole different level of respect.


    As I nibbled at my food, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Something about this whole situation still


    didn’t quite add up.


    X