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

“We will.”

“Alright.”

up her belongings, pressing a hand to her stomach as

boxed lunches earlier, but after dancing for hours on end, the

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

economical–felt exhausting. She needed food immediately.

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

walking.

called out

lifted her

stood a short distance away, watching her with an expression that made it seem like he thought she might disappear at

“Hadley!”

steps closer, the man’s face broke into an

so much–I barely recognized you…” His voice faded,

a quiet scoff, the sarcasm evident in her

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

She raised an eyebrow, her tone indifferent. “Are we supposed to know

he couldn’t tell if she had truly forgotten him or if she was

to be exact. You’ve changed a lot, but I

what you’re talking

you. Get out of

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Chapter 45 Are They Still Together

response, she stepped around him,

“Hadley!”

of nowhere, the man reached for her and grabbed

closed around her wrist, something deep inside Hadley snapped,

“Ah!”

violently against his grip, her breathing turning ragged. “Let go

“Is something wrong?”

face. He didn’t understand why she was reacting as if he were

to hurt you!

Don’t touch

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

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

your hands off

spiral any further,

It was Eric.

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

moved, the crisp white cuff of his

in a moment like this, there was an effortless smoothness to the way Eric carried himself.

barely believing he was standing there,

“I’m here.”

words were barely audible, Eric caught

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

the man gripping

said let go. Are you deaf?”

“You…”

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loosened instantly, his face shifting from confusion to shock. “Mr.

scoffed, a sharp, unimpressed

a flick of his wrist, he shook off the man’s hand as if the very touch was beneath him. “So you know who I am. And yet you still thought you could put

glance.

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