Semua Bab THE BILLIONAIRE’S BELLA: Bab 11 - Bab 16

~Liv~ My phone buzzed sometime past midnight.Unknown number. But I knew who it was before I even picked up.I rolled onto my side and smiled into the pillow before answering. “You’re late.”“Or maybe,” Tariq’s voice came through, smooth but a little tired, “you just sleep too early.”“I was up,” I said, pretending to yawn dramatically. “Had a date with my thoughts. You interrupted.”He chuckled, low and easy. “You’re welcome. So… did you at least think about me?”“Wow, confident much?”“Just curious,” he said. “It’s not every day I get called fine by someone who clearly meant irresistible.”I laughed out loud. “You’re ridiculous.”“And yet, you picked up.”Touché.We talked. About everything and nothing.How he once spilled wine on a model during Fashion Week.How I once walked into a glass door because I thought it was automatic.He called me “chaotic elegance.” I told him that wasn’t a real phrase. He said he just made it one.Then somehow, we started debating whether cereal coun

~Tessa~ I stood up, brushing off imaginary dust from my dress. “We should probably head back,” I said, my voice lighter than I felt. “I’ve escaped long enough, and technically, this is my office event.”He glanced at me, one brow arched. “You work with Tariq?”I blinked, a little surprised he knew the name. “Yes, Mr. Tariq is my employer,” I said quickly, trying to sound professional even though we were both half-lit by the amber glow of the car’s dashboard lights. Then, almost without thinking, I added, “Hopefully, I get to work with them permanently.”He gave me that unreadable look again one of those slow, assessing glances that made me wish I’d kept my mouth shut. I tried to laugh it off. “I mean, I’m just an intern. My fingers are crossed I pray get retained.”He nodded once, a small curve ghosting his lips. “Oh,” he said quietly. “What are the odds?”The drive back was different this time quiet but not awkward. The kind of silence that hums with everything unsaid. No music,

Tariq’s POVMy phone buzzed just as Leo was halfway through another exaggerated story about a celebrity who begged him to remix her track.I didn’t care much for the story my focus was on the glowing screen in my hand.Olivia: Congratulations on a wonderful event. You really pulled it off.A slow smile crept across my face before I could stop it. I could practically hear her voice calm, teasing, a little amused. I typed back immediately.Me: You flatter me. But thank you though I should probably give credit to the decorators. They did most of the work.Her reply came in seconds.Olivia: Oh, so the great Tariq doesn’t do everything himself? I’m shocked.Me: Guilty as charged. What about you? Did you make it home in one piece after all that chaos?Olivia: Barely. I’m halfway through dinner, trying not to fall asleep in my plate.Dinner. That explained the faint clinking sound I’d heard in her first voice note earlier.Me: You’re still working even while eating? Multitasking queen.Olivi