Page 29 of A Baby For Her Billionaire BFF

I guide his gaze along the skyline, pointing to the gleaming towers with logos that I know are his doing. “You’ve built an empire. These are monuments to your hard work, to your vision. Most people spend their lives dreaming of achieving even a fraction of what you have.”

He’s silent for a long moment, taking in the sight. Finally, he exhales slowly, as if releasing a weight he’s been carrying on his shoulders. “I never really stop to look at it, you know? It’s always on to the next project, the next deal.”

“Maybe it’s time you did. Take stock of what you’ve accomplished. You deserve to acknowledge it, to celebrate it — not just push for the next big thing.”

He nods, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to take a moment… to appreciate it all.” His eyes meet mine again, and there’s a glimmer of something new — a hint of peace, perhaps, or maybe just the beginning of acceptance.

And despite what’s happened between us, despite what I wish would happen, right now this is more than enough.

CHAPTER 15

OLIVER

The city stretches out before us, a living tapestry of light and shadow. From this vantage point on the rooftop, it looks peaceful — almost idyllic — with the skyline cutting a jagged silhouette against the darkening sky. It’s a view I’ve seen a thousand times from my penthouse office, but never quite like this, never with her.

“Look at that,” Nora says, her voice hushed in reverence as she points at bats swooping through the street lights, snatching bugs. “There’s so much life happening all around us.”

I follow her gaze, feeling a smile spread across my face without my permission. It’s infectious, the way she sees the world with a kind of wonder I’m not sure I ever had. With Nora next to me, it’s like I’m rediscovering colors I forgot existed, laughter that doesn’t come with a price tag, moments that don’t need to be scheduled between meetings.

“Thanks for bringing me up here.” My voice is a little more raw than I intend. “It’s been… a long time since I’ve just… stopped to enjoy a view.”

“We did it on Saturday,” she reminds me.

“True, but we were moving then.” I chuckle. “Tonight, we’re just standing here. It’s nice.”

Nora turns to me, her eyes soft in the fading light. “Sometimes we all need a reminder to slow down. Even you, Mr. High-Power, High-Achiever Extraordinaire.”

“Especially me,” I admit, running a hand through my hair — a nervous habit I can’t seem to shake even now.

The wind picks up, and she shivers slightly. Instinctively, I remove my jacket and drape it over her shoulders. She smiles her gratitude, and something warm unfurls inside my chest.

“Oliver, can I ask you something?” Her tone has shifted, and there’s a seriousness there that makes my heart thud irregularly.

“Of course, anything,” I reply.

She hesitates, looking down at her hands before meeting my gaze again. “After college… why didn’t you ever respond to my emails? I mean, truthfully?”

The question hits me harder than I expect, dredging up a mix of guilt and old fears. I take a deep breath, trying to gather the courage to give her the truth she deserves.

“Because every single word you wrote… it had an effect on me, Nora. A profound one. And that scared me.”

My confession hangs between us, stark and vulnerable. “I was on the brink of taking over the company, and I was convinced I needed to stay in control. Of everything. But with you… I was worried I’d lose that control.”

“Because of me?” Her voice is barely above a whisper, disbelief etching her features.

“Yes. Because of you. You made me feel things that were… unpredictable. And I couldn’t afford unpredictable — not then.” I reach for her hand, holding it gently between mine. “I’m sorry, Nora. I should have been upfront with you instead of just… vanishing.”

She squeezes my hand, her thumb stroking my skin in a soothing motion. “I wish you hadn’t vanished. But I’m glad you’re here now.”

“Me too,” I say, and I mean it more than I’ve meant anything in a long time.

Because right now, with Nora’s hand in mine and the city breathing below us, I feel lighter than air — like maybe I can let go of the reins, just a little, and trust that everything will still be okay.

The wind picks up, sending a chill through my blazer as Nora and I share the silence, our gaze fixed on the pulsating city lights. They flicker like distant stars, for a moment convincing me that the other side of the city might be a universe away.

“Oliver,” she begins, her voice light but laced with an undercurrent of seriousness that makes me turn to face her. “There’s something I never told you, not even in those emails.”

Curious, I tilt my head. “Yeah?”

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