Semua Bab Signed, Sealed, I’m Rich: The Rejected Luna’s Multi-Billion : Bab 261 - Bab 270

Salome’s POV“Don’t read too much into Jeremiah and Duke,” Benedict said. She leaned back in her chair with a confident smile. “Duke loves to stir the pot, that is all. He is secure in who he is. There was a serious girlfriend years ago. His personality is just a defense mechanism because his home life is a mess.”I felt a cold shiver crawl down my spine. I kept picturing the heavy, unblinking stare of Stanley Cater’s great-uncle. I looked at Benedict. “What is the deal with Stanley and his wife, Hana?”Benedict glanced at the office door. She made sure it was latched tight before she leaned in. My heart hammered against my ribs. I waited for her to speak.“Stanley was married to a woman named Gianna before,” Benedict whispered. Her eyes were wide. “She was driving to the hospital to deliver their baby. There was a car crash. She died on the way. The baby did not survive the impact either.”My jaw went slack. The air in the room felt heavy and suffocating. My stomach twisted into a tig

Salome’s POV“You look so cute when you blush. It is a nice change from that serious face you wear all the time,” Tabitha said. She nudged my shoulder, her eyes bright with amusement.Clementine leaned across the table, her grin wide and knowing. “If Jeremiah saw you right now, and if he heard even a fraction of what we just discussed, the man would lose his mind. He has absolutely no chill when it comes to you.”The teasing made my face heat up even more. I grabbed my water glass to hide behind it, taking a long sip while the others laughed. We eventually dropped the subject, shifting our focus to the early meeting Clementine had the next morning. She looked tense, tapping her nails against the wood of the table as she spoke about the client. It was a massive opportunity for her firm, and the pressure was clearly getting to her.Tabitha and I jumped in with both feet, listing off all the reasons she was the most capable person for the job. We reminded her of her track record and how s

Salome’s POV“Is the kitten settling in, or is she still looking for trouble?”I stood in my doorway, my hand gripping the frame tight. My heart hammered against my ribs. Jeremiah stood on the porch with that easy, lopsided grin of his. He held the small cat against his chest, one hand cradling her back while he stroked her ears with his thumb.“She is doing just fine,” Jeremiah said. He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his eyes scanning my living room. “Arthur is out for the evening. I thought I would see if you were up for some company. I was going to grab a pizza, but I would not say no to a real dinner if you are offering.”My breath hitched. The secret tucked under my bed felt heavy, like it was vibrating through the floorboards. I had planned to spend the night alone, and now my pulse was racing for the wrong reasons. I looked at the cat, then back at Jeremiah.“I have a steak in the fridge,” I said, my voice sounding thin to my own ears. “And I can make some pas

Salome’s POV“Just go grab the cat bed, she can stay here for the night,” I said.Jeremiah shook his head before the words fully left my lips. “That means I have to move the litter box, too.”“Why?”He looked at me like I had just suggested something ridiculous. “She is a kitten, Salome. She will need to use the bathroom at some point while we sleep.”I stayed quiet. He was right.“Why don’t you just stay upstairs?” he asked. “The guest room is ready for you. You can take care of her there.”My throat tightened. My head felt empty. Was he actually worried about the kitten, or was this about me? If I stayed, I would be in the same apartment as Jeremiah. Arthur was out. If Jeremiah had a date, he might not even be here.Jeremiah took a slow step toward me. The scent of pine and soap moved with him, filling the small space around us. It made thinking even harder. I forced myself to focus on the facts.“No, Jeremiah. It is not professional for me to spend the night here. Especially since y

Salome’s POV“Are you certain you want to do this, because I can stop right now if you prefer,” Jeremiah said, his gaze dropping to my mouth.I bit the inside of my cheek. His tone was too soft, too accommodating. Back at the bamboo grove, he had been distant and sharp, holding onto that misunderstanding like a weapon. Now, he was offering me an open door. It felt like a trap, or at least a test I was destined to fail. If I accepted, would he think I was only here to manipulate him for my own gain?I squeezed my eyes shut for a second. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.“You are spiraling again,” he noted. He opened his door and took my hand. His grip was firm but gentle. “Leave the work and the doubt outside. Just be here.”I stepped into his room and my breath hitched. The overhead lights were off. Scattered across the floor and every available surface were dozens of white candles. The golden light flickered against the walls, creating long shadows. It was intimat