All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE'S DIRTY SECRET: A FORBIDDEN SECOND CHANCE: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

118 Chapters

Chapter eleven

UNWANTED HISTORYNOELLE'S POVThe universe, it seemed, had decided I hadn’t suffered enough.I was in my office reviewing final mockups for the McKenzie wedding when my assistant knocked once and poked her head in.“Noelle? There’s a Derek Ashford here to see you. He says it’s personal but urgent. Should I send him in?”My stomach dropped.I wanted to say no. I should have said no.Instead, I heard myself reply, “Send him in.”Derek walked in two minutes later looking every bit the polished, handsome man I had once planned to marry. Navy suit. Perfect hair. That easy, disarming smile that used to make me feel chosen.Today it made my skin crawl.“Noelle,” he said softly, closing the door behind him. “You look beautiful. As always.”I stayed seated behind my desk like it was a shield. “What are you doing here, Derek?”He ignored the coldness in my tone and walked closer, stopping in front of my desk. His eyes swept over me with fake concern.“I’ve been thinking about us a lot lately,”

Chapter twelve

DANGEROUS DANCE.NOELLE'S POVThe McKenzie wedding was supposed to be my masterpiece.Instead, it became another battlefield.The venue was breathtaking. A luxurious waterfront estate just outside the city, with crystal chandeliers, cascading white florals (the client had changed her mind one final time), and soft golden lighting that made everything look like a dream. I had spent weeks perfecting every detail. Tonight, everything was flawless.Except me.I stood near the grand ballroom entrance in a deep blue gown that hugged my curves and fell to the floor in a soft shimmer. Professional, elegant, and just seductive enough to make me feel powerful. Or so I told myself.Roman was here as the new owner of DANS.Of course he was.He looked devastating in a tailored black tuxedo. The kind of man who made the entire room shift when he entered. I felt his presence the second he arrived, like the air pressure changed.Our eyes met across the crowded ballroom.He didn’t smile. He just watch

Chapter thirteen

MILO'S ESCAPENOELLE'S POVI didn't go to the terrace. I went to Bria.I slipped out the side entrance of the venue, heart still racing from the heat of Roman’s body against mine, and took the first Uber I could get.The gown felt ridiculous now, shimmering under the streetlights as the car sped through the city. My skin still tingled where Roman’s hand had rested on my waist. I could still feel the hard press of him against my hip during that slow dance, the way his breath had brushed my ear with that dangerous invitation.But Bria’s message had been my escape route.When I burst through the door of my apartment building, Bria was already waiting in the lobby in her pajamas, eyes wide and panicked.“What happened?” I asked, grabbing her shoulders. “Your text said emergency. Are you okay?”Bria’s face crumpled. “It’s Milo. My stupid cat ran out when I opened the door to get the delivery guy. He just bolted. I’ve been looking for him for almost an hour and he’s nowhere. I’m so sorry fo

Chapter fourteen

THE RIDE HOMENOELLE'S POVMonday morning came too fast.I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, staring at my reflection while Milo rubbed against my legs, demanding breakfast. My eyes had faint shadows under them despite the concealer. The gown from Saturday night was hanging on the back of my door like a reminder of everything I had run from.I dressed carefully, a cream silk blouse tucked into high-waisted black trousers. Professional. Safe. Nothing that would remind me of how Roman’s eyes had darkened when he saw me in that blue dress.Bria was already in my kitchen making coffee when I walked out.“You look like you barely slept,” she said, sliding a mug toward me. Milo jumped onto the counter and meowed loudly for attention.“I didn’t.” I took the coffee but only sipped a little. “Between the dance, Roman’s messages, and worrying about your dramatic cat… my brain wouldn’t shut off.”Bria gave me a knowing look. “Are you going to reply to him today?”I shrugged. “What would I e

Chapter fifteen

ALMOSTNOELLE'S POVThe charity gala client arrived the next evening, and with him came another layer of unavoidable proximity to Roman.Mr. Elias Hawthorne was a silver-haired philanthropist in his late fifties with more money than most small countries and the kind of calm authority that made people listen. He wanted something elegant but impactful for his annual foundation gala. Raising funds for children’s hospitals. High profile. High pressure. High visibility.Of course he wanted DANS to handle it.And of course Roman insisted I lead the project personally.We sat in the main conference room. Me, Roman, and two of my senior coordinators, going through initial concepts. Mr. Hawthorne listened attentively, nodding at my mood board and timeline suggestions. But I felt Roman’s eyes on me the entire time. Heavy and unrelenting.“Miss Carter has excellent taste,” Roman said smoothly when I finished presenting. “She’ll personally oversee every detail. You’ll be in very capable hands.”T

Chapter sixteen

BLOOD ON THE PAVEMENT.ROMAN'S POVMy lips were a breath away from hers.Noelle’s eyes were half-closed, her breath trembling against my mouth. After weeks of restraint, after watching her run from me again and again, she was finally leaning in. Finally giving me what I’d been starving for.Then that fucking knock shattered everything.I pulled back sharply, every muscle in my body going rigid. Noelle’s eyes flew open in panic. I turned my head slowly toward the window.Derek.Of course it was Derek.He stood on the sidewalk with that smug, poisonous smile plastered on his face, knuckles still raised like he’d enjoyed interrupting us.I felt the rage rise hot and fast in my chest, but I kept my expression cold. Controlled. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose it in front of her.“Stay in the car,” I told Noelle quietly.“Roman—” she started, voice shaky.I was already opening the door and stepping out.The moment my feet hit the pavement, Derek laughed. Low an

Chapter seventeen

SPACE AND SILENCENOELLE'S POVI didn’t look back.The heavy glass door of my apartment building clicked shut behind me with a sound that echoed in my chest. I pressed my back against the cool wall in the dimly lit lobby, trying to steady my breathing. My legs felt weak, like they might give out at any second. The image of Roman’s bruised knuckles kept flashing in my mind, the raw power in his movements when he slammed Derek against the car, the ice-cold warning in his voice, the absolute certainty that he would destroy anything that tried to hurt me.It should have scared me more than it did.But the scariest part wasn’t the violence. It was how safe I had felt standing behind him. How wanted. How seen.I hated myself for that.Milo’s distant, demanding meow floated down from upstairs, pulling me back to reality. I forced myself to move, gripping the handrail as I climbed the stairs on shaky legs. Each step felt heavier than the last.Bria must have heard me coming because she opene

Chapter eighteen

TWO DAYS LATENOELLE'S POVThe morning started like any other.I woke up to my alarm buzzing, sunlight filtering through the curtains, and the familiar ache of exhaustion clinging to my bones. I stretched, checked my phone, and went through my usual routine. Shower, coffee, outfit selection (today: soft beige blouse and wide-leg trousers), and a quick look in the mirror.It wasn’t until I was brushing my teeth that something small nagged at the back of my mind.I paused, toothbrush still in my mouth.When was my last period?I did the mental math while staring at my reflection.Two days late.Just two days.Nothing dramatic. Nothing worth panicking over. Stress could do that. The constant tension at work, Derek’s drama, Roman’s intensity… my body had every right to be confused. I rinsed my mouth and shook the thought away.It was probably nothing.I arrived at DANS earlier than usual, determined to stay focused. Today’s plan was simple: avoid Roman at all costs. After yesterday’s blow

Chapter nineteen

FAMILY DINNER ROMAN'S POVI didn’t go to the office.For the first time since acquiring DANS, I worked from the penthouse all day. The city stretched out beneath me through floor-to-ceiling windows, but I barely saw it. My focus kept drifting back to last night. Noelle stepping away from me on the sidewalk, the fear in her eyes, the way her voice cracked when she asked me to leave her alone.“I need space, Roman. Real space.”So I gave it to her.Even if every instinct in me screamed to drive back to her building, knock on her door, and remind her how perfectly she fit against me. Even if my bruised knuckles still ached from where they connected with Derek’s jaw.I spent the morning on conference calls and the afternoon buried in documents for the Hawthorne charity gala. Every proposal I reviewed had Noelle’s touch on it. Her clean handwriting in the margins, her thoughtful notes. It was torture.By 4 p.m., I accepted the truth: I was avoiding the office because I didn’t trust myself

Chapter twenty

SEVEN DAYS LATENOELLE'S POVThe silence in the office had become unbearable.It had been exactly seven days since I last saw Roman Ashford in person. Seven days since that explosive confrontation on the sidewalk outside my building. Seven days since I told him I needed real space and watched him actually respect it.And every single one of those days felt heavier than the last.I sat at my desk, staring at the same spreadsheet for the Hawthorne charity gala for nearly twenty minutes without absorbing a single number. The cursor blinked mockingly on the screen. My coffee had gone cold beside me. Even the usually comforting hum of the open workspace felt distant, like I was watching everything through thick glass.He hadn’t come in once.Not a single day.At first, I told myself it was a relief. No intense eye contact across conference rooms. No late-night “strategy meetings” that always ended with charged tension. No more feeling like my body was betraying me every time he said my nam

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