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 get home. You all know exactly

“We will.”

“Alright.”

hand to her stomach

after dancing for hours on end, the energy

had a decision to make–grab a burger

cooking–though more economical–felt

she grabbed a burger, unwrapped it, and took a bite

walking.

voice suddenly called out to

mid–bite, Hadley lifted her

expression that made it seem like he thought she might disappear at any second.

“Hadley!”

few steps closer, the man’s face broke into an eager, almost disbelieving

recognized you…” His voice faded, the rest of his sentence left hanging in the

evident in her voice. “Look, could you move? You’re in

off by her response. “Hadley, don’t

indifferent. “Are we

if she had truly

“It’s been years–five, to be exact. You’ve changed a lot, but I haven’t. If you just take a second to think, you

idea what

“I don’t know you. Get out of my

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Are They Still

response, she stepped around him, ready to put the

“Hadley!”

nowhere, the man reached for her and grabbed her arm. “Wait–just listen for a second!”

hand closed around her wrist, something deep inside Hadley snapped, like a trigger

“Ah!”

as her eyes widened in pure panic. She struggled violently against his grip, her breathing turning ragged. “Let go of me! Get your hands off me

“Is something wrong?”

all over his face. He didn’t understand why she was reacting

not trying to hurt you! I just—”

Don’t touch me!”

frantically, terror flashing in her eyes, but no matter how hard she pulled

his hold tightened.

hands off

spiral

It was Eric.

sun burned brightly overhead, casting a golden glow that accentuated his striking features, making him look almost

wrist. As he moved, the crisp white cuff of his shirt slipped into view, revealing a polished

moment like this, there was an effortless smoothness to the way Eric carried

whisper, barely believing he was standing

“I’m here.”

barely

on him–that

toward the

go. Are you deaf?”

“You…”

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45 Are They Still Together Now

to recognize him. His grip loosened instantly, his face shifting

a sharp, unimpressed sound.

very touch was beneath him. “So you know who I am. And yet you still thought you could put your hands on my wife? Get the hell out

then didn’t spare the man another glance. His attention was

face was drained of color, her body trembling, her lips pale. She looked completely shaken.