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.

when you get home. You all know exactly what Mr. Faulkner expects from

“We will.”

“Alright.”

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

given boxed lunches earlier, but after dancing for hours on

burned away. Now she had a decision to make–grab a burger

economical–felt exhausting. She

nearby, she grabbed a burger, unwrapped

walking.

A voice suddenly called out

mid–bite, Hadley lifted

expression that made it seem like he

“Hadley!”

closer, the man’s face broke into an

so much–I barely recognized you…” His voice faded, the rest of his

sarcasm evident in her voice. “Look, could you

hesitated, momentarily thrown off by her response. “Hadley,

an eyebrow, her tone indifferent. “Are we supposed to know each other?”

had truly forgotten him or if she was intentionally

again. “It’s been years–five, to be exact. You’ve changed a lot, but I

idea what you’re talking about.”

know you. Get out of my way and stop blocking

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Chapter 45 Are They Still Together

she stepped around him,

“Hadley!”

and grabbed her arm.

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

“Ah!”

cry tore from her throat as her eyes widened in pure panic. She struggled violently against

“Is something wrong?”

confusion written all over his face. He didn’t understand why she was reacting as if he were some kind of threat.

not trying to hurt you! I just—”

touch me!”

terror flashing in her eyes, but no matter how hard she pulled away, she couldn’t break

his hold tightened. “Hadley, what’s wrong? Are you feeling

your hands off

spiral any

It was Eric.

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

out, his fingers clamping around the middle–aged man’s wrist. As he moved, the

an effortless smoothness to the way

out in a whisper, barely believing he was

“I’m here.”

words were barely

her tone–a quiet, unspoken reliance on him–that sent

snapped toward the man gripping Hadley’s

said let go. Are you deaf?”

“You…”

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recognize him. His grip loosened instantly, his face shifting

scoffed, a sharp,

touch was beneath him. “So you know who I am. And yet you still thought you could put your hands on

the man another glance. His attention was solely on

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