The Long Lost Billionaire's Wife

Valerie's POV.

My heart raced as I woke up to the sound of my alarm blasting right next to my ear. I immediately hit the snooze button, intending to get five more minutes... but then realization sunk in.

Today was Monday, my first day at work. I’d be working for the Martinez Corporate group. I'd just graduated last Friday and I had to go straight into a new job. I was lucky enough to be selected by the Martinez Corporate group; they sponsored a very select number of students with their studies, but there were some strings attached.

They paid for the tuition in full at the prestigious university and in return, after graduating we worked two years for them. For someone like me, that was just a win-win situation. My degree was paid for and straight afterward I’d have a job.

Nervousness filled my stomach as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I took a few deep breaths and reminded myself of the years of hard work and dedication that it took to get here. It was now my time and shine and I couldn’t—shouldn’t—shy away.

I stepped into the icy cascade of the shower, enduring the biting cold water that was the norm in my apartment. Given my efforts to keep my bills low, warm water was an occasional luxury I couldn't complain about. Determined, I finished my shower and proceeded to brush my teeth, steeling myself for the day ahead.

As I stood in front of the mirror, my once unruly blond curls were now tamed into a sleek ponytail, the shorter strands behaving for now. I knew all too well that once the wind got ahold of them, they would inevitably rebel and dance in every direction.

Ready to get dressed, I faced a sartorial dilemma: a pantsuit or a dress. Ultimately, I opted for the dress—a daring red bodycon with collars and intricate silver details that perfectly complemented my chosen jewelry. I was well aware that red was a bold choice, but I wanted to make a lasting impression. Standing before the mirror, my gaze traveled from the sleek black heels up to meet my own eyes, a silent affirmation passing between us. A small, satisfied smile played on my red lips as I gathered my thoughts and made my way to the parking lot.

Knowing my old, faithful companion Betty, a beat-up car that had seen better days, might decide to act up, I left earlier than necessary. I stuffed cereal bars in my purse for any emergency snacking needs later — right then I couldn't even think about food. The Martinez Corporate Group wasn't a considerable distance away, but I couldn't risk being late due to unreliable transportation. Especially not on the first day.

As I stepped into the office belonging to the Martinez Corporate Group, I was immediately captivated by its grant-funded, amazing, and luxurious ambiance. The grandeur of the space was evident as I gazed up at the high ceilings and basked in the natural light flooding through expansive windows. Polished marble floors and tasteful artwork adorned the walls, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and inspiration. Every detail, from the state-of-the-art meeting rooms to the opulent furnishings, reflected the commitment to excellence that defined this company.

This was the place where many dreams took flight, and here I was, standing right in the heart of it all. As I entered, a friendly woman behind the front desk flashed me a warm smile, and I approached her slowly.

"Good morning," she greeted with a gentle smile on her lips.

"Good morning, I'm Valerie Reynolds," I replied, drawing closer to her and returning the smile.

She checked her computer screen, a slight frown appearing on her face. Then, she glanced up at me. "Oh, Miss Reynolds, you're early. Come with me," she said, getting up and pushing her glossy black hair over her shoulder. She took the lead, guiding me through the building.

We arrived at an office on the top floor. Unlike the other offices we passed, this one had a simple and unadorned appearance. It seemed as if the occupant had never bothered to personalize it to their liking.

"He'll be here shortly. Good luck, Miss Reynolds," she said with a swift smile before leaving me alone in the office.

"Thank you. Have a great day," I responded, watching her exit the room.

As I turned around, I noticed a man entering through the other door. Towering at least 6'3", he was dressed in a finely tailored black and white suit that showcased his well-toned physique. His face sported a five o'clock shadow, and his dark auburn hair was meticulously styled to the side. However, it was his striking pale green eyes that captivated me the most. True to his name, he was Oliver.

A woman followed right behind him; she was tall and even more so in those gorgeous red heels. She was dressed in a pantsuit, one similar to what I wanted to wear this morning, only hers seemed more expensive and she was much bolder than I was when I wore pantsuits.

"I'm Oliver Martinez. And you are?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow. I knew exactly who he was—the youngest member of the influential Martinez family, the newly appointed CEO, and the person I was supposed to work for. I tried researching as much as possible to be prepared but all I found was that he was a stunning man many lusted after but when it came down to his work ethic, I could only find so little that it wasn’t enough to prepare me for what to expect.

"I'm Valerie Reynolds. Nice to meet you," I responded kindly, following his gesture as he indicated a chair.

“I’m Nicole Jameson, part of the HR team,” the woman introduced herself shortly and sat down next to Oliver.

"You're one of the sponsored individuals?" Oliver asked as we both settled into our seats. He reached for a folder bearing my name and briefly skimmed its contents then passed it to Nicole.

"Yes, that's correct," I confirmed, feeling a wave of nervousness welling up inside me. I couldn't help but worry that I would embarrass myself in some way.

"Well, we have a role for you — you'll be working as my assistant," Oliver declared and focused his attention on me. I was momentarily entranced by his smooth voice, almost missing the significance of his words.

His assistant?

"Oh, um, pardon me? I think there might be a mistake," I ventured, trying to be as polite as possible. "My major is in international business," I informed him, assuming that he had overlooked that part of the folder. Perhaps he had mistaken me for another one of their sponsored students. I looked over at Nicole, hoping she would point that out to him as well.

“We are well aware of that, but as of right now we don’t exactly have open spots for that,” Nicole explained in a soft and genuine tone. "This one needs to be filled urgently."

"But—"

"Does your contract specify a specific role?" Oliver interjected, his tone slightly harsh, causing me to question if I had said something wrong.

"No," I replied.

"Good. You'll be my assistant. I am in dire need of one, and you are obligated to the terms of the contract," Oliver decided without hesitation.

“What he means to say is that given the contract you do have to work two years for us and right now being his assistant is the only available spot. It doesn’t require much experience,” Nicole said, looking over at Oliver for a moment then turned back to me and flashed me a quick smile.

"But, sir," I began, only to be ignored.

"We’ll be flying back to New York on Wednesday so have everything prepared for the move," Oliver instructed, his attention already turning to his computer as he began typing.

"Move? You want me to relocate?" I asked, feeling a tinge of panic. This was getting out of control. Nowhere in the documents did it mention that I would have to move cities. With Martinez Corporate Group present in almost every state, I never anticipated the need to uproot my life.

“Since you’ll be his assistant it will be necessary. He resides in New York so you will be joining us at the headquarters,” Nicole added.

"I don't have a place to stay and—"

“Don’t worry Valerie, HR will help you sort that out. I read that you don’t have a family so it will be just you moving, correct?”

The mention of having no family made me wince a little. It was reality but still stung from time to time.

"I don’t,” I confirmed. “I understand," I murmured. While there wasn't much keeping me in Massachusetts, it had come to feel like home over the past four years, something I'd been longing for. The thought of letting that familiarity slip away unnerved me. I had moved around a lot in my life, but I could never quite get used to it.

"You don't seem thrilled, Valeria," Oliver attempted to say in a gentle tone, but the way he pronounced my name only made me want to roll my eyes.

"It's Valerie," I corrected him, then shrugged. "It's just that I thought I'd be pursuing my major."

"Well, you're not. Here's your first business tip: you can't always get what you want, so be ready to adjust to what you get." Oliver's eyes bore into mine. "I don't expect you to fetch coffee or handle the dry cleaning. However, I do expect you to complete the tasks assigned to you daily. In fact, here are today's," he said, handing me a tablet displaying the list of duties he expected me to fulfill.

I looked over at Nicole and she just took a deep breath, the look on her face apologetic.

"Yes, Mr. Martinez," I replied as I read through each task. It wasn't particularly challenging; it just wasn't what I had envisioned.

"Any issues?" he inquired.

"I suppose not," I hummed.

"Good. Legally, you can't leave unless you can repay the tuition costs," he reminded me, as if I needed the reminder. When I signed that sponsorship contract, I knew there would be strings attached, but I didn't anticipate dealing with the devil himself.

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Martinez." I forced a smile onto my face, knowing it was as insincere as his demeanor.

"Excellent. You can sit in there today and tomorrow," he gestured to an empty desk on the other side of the glass wall.

"Great, I'll start scheduling your meetings then," I replied, heading towards my designated workspace.

“Actually, can you come with me? We have contracts to make in order regarding your insurance and such,” Nicole said as she got up. I looked over at Oliver, he was about to protest but when Nicole looked at him he clenched his jaw and turned his gaze back to the computer.

Oh, Mr. Oliver Martinez, a striking face concealing an insufferable boss. Brace yourself, Valerie, for the next two years sounded like a headache-worthy, self-control-challenging journey.

It was Thursday morning, and I found myself in New York for the second day. The journey here was quite different from my usual experiences. It was the first time I flew private; I had the honor of being on Mr. Martinez's jet alongside Nicole. Despite having moved around a lot growing up, I was mostly accustomed to long, tiring, smelly road trips. The flight was a whole new experience.

New York felt more overwhelming than I had anticipated, but Nicole assured me that I would gradually adjust to the city. I couldn't quite decipher if she was simply fulfilling her job responsibilities or genuinely being friendly, but either way, I was grateful for all the help she had provided.

Thanks to Nicole's connections, she managed to find me an affordable place to stay. She even negotiated a lower rent for the first two months. Although my studio apartment was small, it suited me perfectly. It had a decent-sized bathroom and kitchen, and the bed was incredibly comfortable. The first thing I did was take a long, hot shower, without feeling guilty.

Overall, things were going smoothly, except for one aspect—Oliver Martinez himself. I took my job seriously, did it well and strive to excel as a secretary, even if it's not my ultimate career goal. However, Oliver seemed to find fault in everything, nitpicking even when I performed my duties well.

***

I walked up to Oliver's office, determined to remind him in person about his upcoming meetings. Despite sending him several emails, I hadn't received any response. I glanced through the glass wall that separated our offices; we both disliked the arrangement, but it was necessary for us to be in close proximity.

I knocked on the door and waited for Oliver to tear his gaze away from the computer screen before entering.

"What do you want, Reynolds?" he asked, crossing his arms. I couldn't help but notice how his jacket hugged his biceps.

"I just came by to remind you about the meetings. You have one in 10 minutes, and around 10:15, you have the meeting with PetroTechs," I explained, holding the tablet in my hand.

"Only 10 minutes left? Who do I have a meeting with?" Panic flooded his face, causing him to sit up straight and quickly open our shared digital calendar.

"Gravity Fuel, Oliver Martinez," I reminded him, emphasizing the use of his full name. I quickly learned that he didn't like to be addressed as Mr. Martinez alone; he insisted on including his first name.

"Why do I have meetings with both Gravity Fuel and PetroTech today?" Oliver looked at me like I was crazy. I understood that scheduling two meetings with oil and gas companies on the same day might not be the wisest decision, but it was what he wanted.

"You specifically requested to meet with Gravity Fuel first, as they are your top choice, sir," I carefully replied. When he nodded in acknowledgment, I continued, "Unfortunately, they weren't available until today, and you wanted the meeting to be as early as possible."

"Still, you scheduled both for today?" he asked, sounding mildly frustrated.

"Sir, I confirmed these arrangements with you on Wednesday, and you personally requested Petro Tech to be scheduled for 10:15," I reminded him. When I initially double-checked with him, he seemed annoyed that I even questioned him.

"I see that I approved it, yes." Oliver's gaze remained fixed on the screen, his jaw momentarily clenched. "Okay, I'll head to the meeting room. Make sure these are taken care of before 12," he sighed, gathering the papers into a folder and handing them to me.

"Of course, sir,. I forced a smile as I took the folder.

Once I returned to my desk, I checked the contents of the folder and realized that they needed to be signed by the financial team, but not the one in this office. I would have to drive about half an hour away to get those signatures since refused to accept digital signatures for these documents Gathering my belongings, I headed straight to the other office, hoping it would be a quick visit. However, Mrs. Ramsing, whose signature I needed, wasn't due to arrive until 10 AM. I decided to pass the time by grabbing a drink. I had only had dry cereal this morning and tea at the office, so I was in need of something more. Across from the office, I spotted a charming café that seemed perfect.

I entered the café and joined the queue. I initially intended to order a regular iced coffee, but my eyes landed on the tempting caramel cookie delight drink. Despite my inner voice telling me to stick with the usual, I found myself still ordering the caramel drink when I reached the register.

As I took the first sip, a smile formed on my lips. I had no regrets about choosing this drink; it instantly improved my mood after dealing with Oliver. Glancing at my phone, I realized I still had an hour to kill. Feeling a bit uneasy sitting alone, I decided to head back to my car. On my way, the door almost slammed open, narrowly missing my face.

Startled, I let out a shriek, only to see an elderly man holding the door. He opened his mouth but froze in place, his eyes fixed on me, scanning me intently.

"Sorry, are you okay?" I quickly apologized, as if it were somehow my fault. The older gentleman across from me had me concerned for a moment, with the way his eyes widened and studied me.

"I'm so..." he began, still staring and not budging out of the way. "Sorry for staring, you... you remind me of someone dear to me," he explained, and suddenly his gaze didn't feel so strange.

"I hope it's someone wonderful," I joked, letting out a slightly awkward laugh.

"Trust me, she was one of the best people I ever had the privilege to know," the man said, a faint smile gracing his lips. His bright blue eyes softened as he reminisced. "Is there any chance I can buy you a cup of coffee? To make up for almost hitting you with the door?"

"A little late for more coffee," I wiggled my drink in front of him, and almost instantly, his lips formed a pout.

"What about those mango pastries? They're the best here," he suggested, pointing to the pastries display as he stood in the queue.

"I'm actually allergic to mangoes," I explained truthfully, and once again, he pouted. Now I felt bad for making the old man sad. "But I noticed they just got a fresh batch of blueberry muffins that I'd love to try," I blurted out without much thought.

"Perfect." He smiled, his pearly whites—maybe fake—on full display. "I'm Jace Clair," he introduced himself, and I shook his hand, providing him with my first name alone.

I found a table and decided it was time to make a new friend, even if it turned out to be someone who could be my grandfather. Who knows, maybe he'll have some valuable lessons to share with me. Either way, it was better than sitting alone in the car for an hour.

Jace returned with his drink and two blueberry muffins. As he sat down, he let out a soft sigh and took a moment to compose himself. His head was adorned with a crown of gray hair, and the silver-like streaks seemed to suit him perfectly. I couldn't help but notice the golden band on his ring finger, which made me wonder about his long-lasting marriage. It struck me that I had never really had a grandparent-like figure in my life, and I felt a sense of curiosity.

"Vanessa. That was my wife's name. We got married when we were 21, and today would have been our 51st anniversary," Jace revealed when he caught me staring at his wedding band.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Jace," I replied sincerely, quickly averting my gaze from the ring.

"It's okay. The 45 years I got to spend with her were the best." Jace smiled warmly at me.

And just like that, Jace began sharing more about his wife and their beautiful love story, the life they had built together. It was like listening to a fairy tale, and he narrated the stories with such passion that I couldn't help but be captivated. Soon enough, he started asking about my day, and I found myself venting about my difficult boss without mentioning any names or the company, of course.

It was safe to say that meeting Jace and having a conversation with him brightened my day even more than the caramel cookie delight drink.