Semua Bab THE BILLIONAIRE'S DIRTY SECRET: A FORBIDDEN SECOND CHANCE: Bab 51 - Bab 60

BETTER KISSESNOELLE'S POVThe days after settled into a surprisingly peaceful rhythm.Work at DANS felt lighter than it had in weeks. The Hawthorne Charity Gala had been a massive success. Glowing reviews in the press, record donations for the children’s hospital, and even a personal thank-you note from Mr. Hawthorne himself. Roman and I fell into a comfortable routine that felt almost normal.Mornings started with quiet kisses in his office when no one was looking. He would pull me onto his lap during lunch breaks, not for anything heated, just to hold me and talk about our days. Afternoons were filled with stolen glances across conference rooms and flirty texts under the table during meetings. Evenings often ended with him cooking at his penthouse or me making him watch terrible reality TV at mine.It was fine and dandy.Almost too good.I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it didn’t. Derek had gone quiet after the apology visit. Sylvia hadn’t reached out since. Roman and

SAME HAIR, SAME NOSE.NOELLE'S POVThe invitation came on Thursday evening, tucked inside a small cream envelope delivered by Roman’s driver.I was at home, curled up on the couch with Milo purring on my lap. Bria had dropped him off earlier when the doorbell rang. The driver handed me the envelope with a polite nod and left without another word. Inside was a handwritten note from Roman and two elegant tickets.Noelle,My mother is hosting a private art gallery opening this Saturday night. It’s one of her charity events. It's about supporting emerging artists. I’d like you to come with me. Not as my employee. Not as a secret. As the woman I’m with.No pressure. If it’s too much after everything, I understand. But I want you there. I want to show you off properly. I want them to know where you stand with me.Yours, RomanI stared at the note for a long time, fingers tracing his handwriting. After the chaos at Sylvia’s birthday dinner, after Derek’s photos and warnings about Liana, af

ACQUISITIONSROMAN POV The meeting was called for nine.I knew before I walked in.Not because anyone told me. No one had the courtesy. But I had spent five years reading rooms before entering them, and this one had been rearranged. Different energy in the lobby. Assistants who wouldn't hold eye contact. The kind of quiet that meant someone had been talking and stopped.Richard's assistant met me at the elevator and said the board had requested my presence in the main conference room. Not in his office. The main one, with the long glass table and the city spread out behind it like a backdrop.I said thank you and rode up without asking why.I already knew why.The room was fuller than it should have been for a board meeting. Six board members I recognized, two I didn't, a legal consultant whose name I had seen on retainer paperwork but never in person. Richard sat at the head of the table. He looked stressed or maybe I was just paying attention now.Derek was standing near the projec

THE LONG GAMEROMAN'S POVThe penthouse felt too quiet after Noelle left.I stood at the window, my phone still in my hand, staring at the city lights below until they began to blur in my vision. The call I had just ended was still ringing in my ears. Lawyers in Frankfurt arguing over clauses, compliance issues that could derail a nine-figure deal I had spent months building. The pressure had been mounting for days, and today it had finally boiled over.I hadn’t meant to snap at her.Noelle had walked in with her usual quiet grace, folder in hand, offering to help with the Morrison account like she always did. She's efficient, thoughtful, stepping up without being asked. And I had cut her off sharply, my voice harsher than I intended.“Can this wait?”The words echoed in my head now, sounding colder than I had realized at the time. I had seen the brief flash of hurt in her eyes before she masked it with that composed professionalism she wore so well. She had nodded, and said she would

UNKNOWN FEARNOELLE'S POVThe morning after the quiet dinner with Roman felt strangely normal.I woke up to the soft light filtering through my curtains, Milo curled against my side, purring like a tiny engine. For a few blissful seconds, the world was simple, just the warmth of my bed, the familiar weight of the cat, and the faint scent of Roman’s jacket still draped over the chair in the corner from last night.I lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling, letting the memories of the evening settle over me.He had been so careful with me.No pressure. No rush. Just dinner, conversation, and a long walk back to my door where he had kissed me goodnight like I was something precious he didn’t want to break.I touched my lips, remembering the way he had looked at me on the threshold. Patient, steady, like he was willing to wait as long as it took.The thought made my chest feel warm.But the warmth was quickly chased by the familiar knot of unease that had been living in me since.L