Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't Afford Me by Thedora Birnir

Chapter 45 Are They Still Together Now

“What the hell is that?”

A slick, unpleasant sensation clung to the bottom of Eric’s shoe, sending a shudder up his spine.

He aimed his phone’s flashlight downward, only to find that he had stepped on something soft–and clearly edible.

Disgust twisted his expression as he yanked his foot back.

Irritated, he stomped twice, shaking off the remnants, and then strode forward, his patience already wearing

thin.

Behind him, Hadley threw the door wide open.

She just realized that, without meaning to, she might have dropped her pumpkin soup earlier when she was startled by Eric’s presence at her doorstep.

Turning on her phone’s flashlight, she scanned the area, sweeping the beam across the hallway until she spotted it in the corner. But the sight made her stomach drop–the bowl lay shattered, with soup splattered messily across the floor.

Hadley released a slow, disappointed breath. “It’s completely ruined,” she muttered under her breath.

Without hesitation, she turned away, reached for a mop, and set to work. It only made sense that she should

be the one to clean up the mess.

Still, she didn’t dwell on the spilled soup for long.

By the next morning, she had put it out of her mind and arrived at the address Elvin had sent, stepping in right on time alongside a small group of other dance stand–ins.

What she hadn’t expected was to see Adonis there as well, standing next to the choreographer.

“I’ll make this quick,” he said, his tone brisk. “The choreographer and I have already discussed what I want to

present. Every routine they’ve designed needs to be drilled until it’s flawless. When the cameras roll, I don’t want a single pause.”

Adonis had built his reputation on filming scenes in a single, continuous take, demanding that his actors,

actresses, and even background dancers perform with the precision and stamina of a Broadway production.

“Yes, sir,” the girls replied in unison.

Hadley gave herself a silent pep talk.

She wasn’t nervous. As a dancer, her job was to execute every move with precision, and she was more than

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Chapter 45 Are They Still Together Now

ready for it.

Rajab’s Family My Boys is Going to Pakistan Rajab is totally Alone now

From morning until well past midday, Hadley and the other girls pushed themselves to their limits under the choreographer’s watchful eye, sweating through every grueling sequence.

Adonis‘ expectations were nothing short of relentless. And this was just for the opening number–or so they’d

been told.

By the time the choreographer finally clapped his hands and dismissed them, the clock had already passed two

in the afternoon.

You all

“We will.”

“Alright.”

up her belongings, pressing a hand to her stomach as it let out a low, impatient

had been given boxed lunches earlier, but after dancing for hours on end, the energy

had a decision to make–grab a burger nearby or drag herself

economical–felt

by a fast–food place nearby, she grabbed a burger, unwrapped it, and took a bite as she continued

walking.

voice suddenly called out to

mid–bite, Hadley lifted

that made it seem like

“Hadley!”

few steps closer, the man’s face broke

you! You’ve grown so much–I barely recognized you…” His voice faded, the

let out a quiet scoff, the sarcasm evident in her voice. “Look, could you move? You’re in my

momentarily thrown off by her

eyebrow, her tone indifferent. “Are we supposed

brief moment, he couldn’t tell if she had truly forgotten him or if

the man tried again. “It’s been years–five, to be exact. You’ve changed a lot, but I haven’t.

no idea what you’re talking about.”

had no patience for this conversation. “I don’t know you. Get out of my way and

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Are They Still Together Now

around him, ready to put

“Hadley!”

of nowhere, the man reached for her and grabbed her arm.

closed around her wrist, something deep inside Hadley snapped, like

“Ah!”

violently against his grip, her

“Is something wrong?”

understand why she was reacting as if he were some kind of

I’m not trying to hurt you!

Don’t touch

but no matter how hard she pulled away, she couldn’t break free.

fought, the more his hold tightened. “Hadley, what’s

hands off

spiral

It was Eric.

casting a golden glow that accentuated his striking features, making him look

wrist. As he moved, the crisp white cuff of his shirt

an

whisper, barely believing he was standing there, defending her.

“I’m here.”

her words were barely audible, Eric caught

was something in her tone–a quiet, unspoken reliance on him–that sent an unexpected tightness through his

toward the man gripping Hadley’s

go. Are you

“You…”

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45 Are They Still

middle–aged man finally seemed to recognize him. His grip loosened instantly, his face shifting from confusion to shock.

a sharp, unimpressed sound.

beneath him. “So you know who I am. And yet you still

the man another glance. His attention was solely on Hadley.

color, her body trembling, her lips pale. She looked completely