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

Chapter 65 An Overwhelming Urge To Ki…

What was happening?

Everything around Eric was engulfed in darkness, visibility reduced to nil

Eric’s gaze snapped towards Hadley’s apartment, noting the complete blackness that enveloped her chem living space as well.

He pondered whether Hadley might be frightened, considering she was alone.

Deciding not to wait, Eric activated the flashlight on his phone and advanced.

He ascended the stairs rapidly, two or three at a time, until he reached the fifth floor in no time.

Inside, Hadley was searching through a drawer for candles with the help of her phone’s light

The sound of knocking made her pause, slightly startled.

She hurried to the door. “Who’s there?”

“It’s me!”

As the door opened, Eric’s gaze found hers in the dim light. “Do you often have visitors? Other than that grocery store guy I saw last time, who else comes around often?”

Hadley, still a bit bewildered, shook her head. “Nobody else.”

Eric let out a soft chuckle.

He strode in, his long strides taking him directly to the sofa where he sat down. “So, what’s the situation here?

Hadley said, “The power’s gone out.”

“A blackout?” Eric was taken aback. “Here?”

“Can you believe Srixby still experiences blackouts?” Eric muttered internally.

“That’s just how things are,” Hadley said. “This part of town is quite old. The electrical infrastructure is outdated, leading to frequent repairs and disruptions.”

For Eric, who was raised in a more affluent area, such realities were beyond his usual experiences.

“This neighborhood is really run–down…” Eric grumbled.

Visibly annoyed, he then questioned, “Why do you have to stay in such a place?”

Hadley chose not to respond directly to his criticism. Shifting the focus, she asked, “Did you need something by

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An Overwhelming Urge To

coming up here?”

question,

be respond? Should he admit that he was

thoughts, Eric scoffed lightly, “I just came to see what was

explained his presence.

a nod. “I appreciate

she dismissing him already? It seemed she didn’t value his concern at

him. “Leave? In this darkness? How am I supposed to even see all

you have your phone?”

phone’s out

“Okay, hold on.”

seemed to recall where she might find what she

what she could possibly be doing, got up and joined her by the cabinet. Leaning in,

“Candles.”

repeated, taken aback. “You actually keep

frequent here. The landlord and the agent warned me when I signed the

Really?

about the frequent outages and

the faint light. This resourcefulness was uncharacteristic of the Hadley he remembered, who had always seemed

“Found them.”

from the back of

she

candle to Eric. “Here, use

and scoffed, “Keep it. I don’t need

paused, baffled. “But you said it was too dark to see the

expect me to walk out holding a candle? Absolutely not!”

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Urge To Kisa

he knocked the candle from her hand. “I don’t want that

of astonishment crossing her face. She

then, she tensed, her reaction turning urgent as she grasped Eric’s hand.

matter now?” Eric asked,

out a scream.

the floor as she leapt back in

“Hadley! Hadley?”

Hadley leapt towards him, his reflexes took over, and he instinctively reached out to catch her.

Hadley clung to

she gripped Eric’s neck tightly, her

himself supporting a trembling bundle of warmth against his chest.

while gently cradling the back of her head with the other,

and her unique fragrance enveloped him, filling his senses.

soft and smelled so