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

Chapter 51 You Are Not

Allowed To Smile At Them

“Alright,” the grocery store owner responded, giving a quick nod without a second thought.

Hadley, meanwhile, stood frozen, completely thrown off by what had just happened.

Eric turned on her abruptly, his gaze sharp and impatient. “Why are you just standing there? Pay for the flour already!”

“Huh? Oh–okay,” Hadley stammered as she fumbled to find her wallet. “Just a second.”

Eric’s gaze darkened as he caught the store owner sneaking glances at Hadley. Was she really this oblivious? How could she not pick up on it? Wasn’t it obvious to her what was going on?

“What’s taking so long?”

His voice cut through the moment, growing harsher. Something as simple as finding her wallet shouldn’t be dragging on.

“There,” Hadley said, handing over the cash. “All set.”

“No, it’s nothing…” The owner’s gaze flickered toward Eric, hesitating “Hadley, he, uh, he is…”

“Shouldn’t you be on your way?” Eric interjected, his cold, piercing stare cutting through the tension like a blade.

The owner tensed, his resolve crumbling in an instant. He knew better than to press further. “Ah, well… Hadley, I’ll get going then…”

“Alright, take care.”

Hadley gave him an awkward little wave.

“What are you staring at?”

Eric’s patience snapped, his voice edged with irritation. What was so fascinating?

And that lollipop in Hadley’s mouth had been driving him up the wall.

Before she could react, Eric reached over, plucked it from her lips, and tossed it straight into the roadside gutter.

Hadley stared at him, stunned. “What is wrong with you?”

“Why are you yelling?”

Eric had tolerated enough. Some random man handed her candy, and she just ate it without a second thought?

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Now that it was gone, at least he felt a sense of relief.

His eyes locked onto Hadley’s. “Cheap candy. I bet it tastes just as cheap. You’re not allowed to eat stuff like

that.”

What? Hadley couldn’t find the words to respond.

Did she ever ask him to try it? And what did how the candy tasted have to do with him?

Watching her fume in frustration only soured Eric’s mood further. “Who was that guy? What’s he to you? Are you seriously upset just because I threw out the lollipop he gave you?”

you even talking about?” Hadley blinked, baffled. “He owns the grocery store nearby I buy things from.

was just being nice and gave me candy, and you tossed it like

for that?”

is to it?” Eric’s eyes narrowed as he pressed for

would there be?” Hadley shot back, still not following where he was going

Alright..

was just some guy nursing an unrequited

down, hoisting a box with ease. “Quit standing around. Come give me

a hand.”

“Alright.”

Since when had she asked for his

arms and motioned toward her. “Stack the flour

figured his tone might have come off

you handle that?” he asked.

“I can.”

gave a firm nod and followed his instructions.

she hesitated. “Are you sure that’s not too

far back as she could remember, she had never once seen Eric do any kind of manual labor.

You call this heavy?”

as he strode ahead without slowing down. “Move

posture radiated irritation.

she thought. No one forced him to help, yet he went out of his way to do it and

sigh, she grabbed the fruit bags

admit that much. He carried the heavy

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51 You Are Not Allowed

floor without a single pause.

“Open the door.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

open. Eric walked in and

on his face.

a slight pang

Eric

“What?”

“A towel.”

sharpened. “What else do you expect me to wipe

grab

grabbed a fresh towel, and handed it over. “Here.

as he shot her an unimpressed

blinked in confusion. What now? What had she

Eric clicked his tongue, clearly irritated. “You seriously expect me

dust from carrying your stuff. How do you expect me

want me

left her mouth, she regretted them. No one annoyed

“Or maybe-”

his eyes. “Just get it over with. This place is a joke.

an elevator.”

Eric wasn’t having it. “What are you

Still feeling a little dazed, Hadley gave a small nod, lifting her hand as

difference in their heights became painfully obvious. Without the extra height from her heels, Hadley barely reached Eric’s shoulders, making the difference in their

seemed to take note of that, too. When Hadley stretched onto her toes, he

you even reach?”

“I can.”

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