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.

sure you keep practicing when you get home. You all know exactly what

“We will.”

“Alright.”

her belongings, pressing a hand to her

boxed lunches earlier, but after dancing for hours

a decision to make–grab a burger nearby or drag herself home and

of cooking–though more economical–felt exhausting. She needed food

place nearby, she grabbed a burger, unwrapped it, and took

walking.

called out to her.

mid–bite, Hadley lifted her gaze.

distance away, watching her with an expression that

“Hadley!”

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

voice faded, the rest of his sentence left hanging in the

let out a quiet scoff, the sarcasm evident in her voice. “Look, could you

thrown off by her response. “Hadley, don’t you recognize

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

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

the man tried again. “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

have no idea what you’re talking

you. Get out of

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45 Are They Still Together

around him, ready to put

“Hadley!”

and grabbed her

inside Hadley snapped, like a trigger being pulled without

“Ah!”

throat as her eyes widened in pure panic. She struggled violently against his grip, her breathing turning ragged. “Let go

“Is something wrong?”

stared at her, confusion written all over his face. He didn’t understand why she was reacting as if he were

to hurt

touch

flashing in her eyes, but no

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

hands off

the situation could spiral any further, someone appeared.

It was Eric.

casting a golden glow that accentuated

around the middle–aged man’s wrist. As he moved, the crisp white cuff of his shirt

was an effortless

voice came out in a whisper, barely believing he

“I’m here.”

her words were barely audible,

on him–that sent an unexpected tightness through

the

said let go. Are

“You…”

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Are They

recognize him. His grip loosened instantly, his face shifting

a sharp,

as if the very touch was beneath him. “So you know who I am. And yet you still thought

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

trembling, her lips pale.