All Chapters of The Bill‍ionaire’​s Muse: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

(Meghan’s POV)“The game is called Muse,” Vivienne said, her scarlet silk dress rustling as she stepped closer to us.She picked up her cell phone and held it up, moving the stopwatch directly in my face. “The rules are simple, darling. You pick a total stranger from the working staff, you make them feel completely seen, and you get them to kiss you without touching them first.”She twisted her razor-thin grimace in my direction and then back to Adrian. With a big smile on his face, Julian Vaughn was already stowing a leather wallet in his well-cut jacket pocket.Vivienne laughed at Julian and tapped her acrylic nails against the screen of her phone. “He beat your time by two minutes, Julian. Pay up. A bet is a bet.”Julian shook his head, a combination of annoyance and respect toward Adrian. “Fine, but you got lucky with this one. She was an easy target.”My stomach hit the floor, a chill descending through me. I looked at Adrian. The heavy, sculpted jawline that had seemed so handsom

(Meghan’s POV)The supervisor whispered aggressively into my ear, “Hold the tray higher, Meghan, and if you let a drop of champagne get on the floor, I’ll take it right off your agency fee.”The vast estate was built on top of a high bluff overlooking the sea, and the white stone pavilion was bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.I ignored the supervisor entirely, my gaze darting over the richly dressed guests sitting on the elegant outdoor furniture. My heart pounded against my ribs.I spotted him ten minutes later. Adrian Vaughn stood near a heavy glass railing, looking out at the crowd of guests who swarmed around him like planets around the sun.He looked the same as he had the night before on the hotel roof—effortless and relaxed.Then his eyes scanned the balcony, and they locked squarely on my face.I didn’t flinch, and I didn’t look away. I lifted my chin, balanced the weighty aluminum tray along my fingertips, and walked right across his path as if he were nothing mor

(Meghan’s POV)“Please come join me in the car, Meghan, because my dad just moved the meeting forward by thirty minutes,” Adrian Vaughn said, his voice coming through the speaker of my phone with a sharp, frantic edge.I stood by our apartment window, my fingers pinching the plastic casing of the phone as I watched the long, black Benz idling directly over a massive pothole on our street corner.Sofia was sitting on the sofa behind me, her eyes tracking my rigid posture while she sipped her tea.“The car is waiting, Adrian, but I’m not stepping inside until you confirm the payment,” I said, my tone completely calm as I grabbed my backpack from the kitchen table.“The lawyer is in the back seat with the paperwork right now,” Adrian said, his breathing sounding shallow over the line. “Everything is ready, Meghan. The hundred thousand dollars will be sent right now, but I need your signature on the nondisclosure agreement before we cross the gates of the estate, or my dad will call the w

(Meghan’s POV)The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor, and Adrian stepped out beside me with his shoulders already tense. He had barely spoken during the ride up, which made me suspect that whatever Harlan had planned, Adrian knew enough about his father to expect trouble.I tried not to let that worry me. Harlan had called this an introduction, and I had decided to take him at his word.That lasted exactly three seconds.Harlan stood at the end of the hallway, waiting for us with his hands resting loosely at his sides. His eyes moved from Adrian to me, and the second look made me straighten without meaning to.“Dad,” Adrian said as we approached, his hand flexing once at his side. “You said this was an introduction.”“I changed my mind.” Harlan turned toward the conference room without offering an explanation.Adrian stopped walking. “About what?”Harlan glanced back at him. “About what your fiancée needs to prove.”I looked at Adrian, expecting him to argue, but he only r

(Meghan’s POV)“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” she said, keeping her eyes on mine.I looked at her for a second before turning to Adrian. He was still looking at Naomi, though he seemed to be trying not to make it obvious. He clearly knew she was there. He just hadn’t decided how to react to her.“I’m Meghan,” I said, extending my hand across the table.Naomi glanced at it before taking it. She held it firmly, her expression unchanged, but there was a slight pause before she looked back at me.“I know. Naomi.”She released my hand and sat across from me, placing a slim folder on the table.“I’m representing the investors for Harbor Point,” she said. “I’ll be handling the review on their behalf.”So that was why she was here. It still didn’t explain why Adrian had gone completely still when she walked in.I looked down at my notes before my thoughts could settle anywhere they shouldn’t.Harlan’s voice cut through the room.“Begin.”I stood, connected my laptop to the display