All Chapters of One Night And A Billionaire Obsession : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Kelly's POVThe park smelled like cut grass and sunscreen, the kind of late-afternoon air that made the city feel softer than it really was. I spread the blanket out under a wide oak tree, while Hope rummaged through the picnic basket like she was preparing for a small famine instead of a casual hangout.“You brought three kinds of hummus?” I asked, watching her line them up with exaggerated care.“Different moods require different textures, Kelly,” she replied without looking up. “Also, have you forgotten that Tessa stress-eats?”“Oh! That's true. You know it's been a really long time, so…” I said, as I thought about our friend who we met at college on orientation day, and from then on, the three of us had been thick as thieves. Until Tessa moved to Los Angeles with her college boyfriend five years ago and they got engaged three years later.“I was shocked when she told us she was back in Seattle. Do you think something happened? I asked her."I really don't know, that is while I p

Kelly's POV I arrived earlier than usual the next morning, hoping the head start would help me stay focused and finish all my tasks.It didn’t.I sat at my desk with my laptop open, emails already sorted into neat folders, my planner laid out beside the keyboard. Everything looked orderly, but I wasn’t. Every few minutes, my attention drifted toward the hallway outside Michael’s office, my body tensing at the thought of seeing him again.So I didn’t look.I kept my eyes on the screen, typing, deleting, typing again, lines blurring together and words losing meaning. I told myself it was ridiculous to feel this way over something so small. A brush of hands, just an accident.Still, my hands remembered the feeling.I shifted in my chair and forced myself to breathe slowly, grounding myself in the routine I had and familiar tasks, safe tasks.Michael hadn’t arrived in the office yet. Or if he had, his door was closed.That should have been a relief. Instead, it left me unsettled, as th

Kelly's POV By the time I finished checking the placement settings of the tables for the third time, my feet already hurt.The ballroom wasn’t large in the sense of being crowded with people yet, but it felt full in a way that made sound carry. Heels clicking loudly on the polished floor, low voices echoing even when people tried to keep their voices down. Everything was cream and brushed gold and soft lighting meant to make everyone look a little more impressive than they probably felt. Tall windows lined one wall, the city visible beyond them, Seattle stretched out and glittering as dusk settled in.I moved between tables with my tablet tucked against my side, double-checking names, placements, dietary notes. This was my job tonight, to make sure things flowed without friction, to be present but forgettable. I had learned quickly that the best support roles were the ones no one noticed unless something went wrong.Claire had handed me a concise list earlier, sharp and efficien

Kelly's POV Monday morning, I settled back into the office like I always did, emails loading before I’d finished my first sip of coffee. Calendars filling themselves faster than I could blink, the hum of printers and low conversations threading through the floor. The investor mixer felt like it had happened weeks ago instead of a few nights back. Everyone had already moved on to the next agenda, or pretended to.I was finalizing a contract for an apartment complex which Derek from the sales department asked for, when Claire pinged me, asking if I could step into Michael’s office.That alone was not unusual and what made my stomach tighten was the timing. It was barely ten in the morning. Michael usually barricaded himself until noon unless something was on fire. I smoothed my skirt, grabbed my tablet, and walked down the hall.His door was open and he was standing by the window, jacket off, sleeves rolled up, phone pressed to his ear. He finished the call as I stepped in, his voi

Kelly's POV On the day of our trip, I arrived at the private tarmac earlier than instructed, mostly because I hadn’t slept much the night before and staying still in my apartment had felt unbearable. The address Claire sent didn’t look like an airport in the way I understood airports. There were no crowds, no lines, no rolling suitcases bumping into ankles. Just a wide stretch of concrete behind a guarded gate, quiet in a way that felt intentional.A uniformed attendant checked my name on a tablet and waved me through with a polite nod. That alone made my stomach tighten. I wasn’t used to being expected anywhere like this.I stood near the edge of the tarmac, my one suitcase at my feet, the early morning air cool enough to prickle my skin. Somewhere behind me, a jet engine hummed softly, not loud, Everything about the place felt controlled.Michael arrived without announcement.One moment the space felt empty, and the next it reorganized itself around him. A black car rolled in