Page 40 of Triplet Trouble For My Billionaire Boss

“Not temperature-wise,” I clarify, shaking my head. “Just... impersonal. Like it’s more for show than for living. Robbie’s room is the only place that feels warm. Everywhere else is just... marble and perfection.”

Noah chuckles. “Sounds like a billionaire’s house, all right. So, no secret passages or hidden treasures?”

“Not that I’ve found,” I say with a grin. “But I’ll let you know if I stumble across a vault or something.”

He smirks, leaning back in his chair. “You’d better. I want a cut of the treasure.”

I roll my eyes, taking a sip of water. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah, but you love me for it,” he says, his toneteasing.

I laugh, nodding. “That I do.”

For a moment, we sit in comfortable silence, the noise of the restaurant filling the space between us. It feels good to just... be here, catching up with Noah like old times.

“So,” he says, breaking the silence. “How’s it been living with him? The boss, I mean.”

I hesitate, fiddling with my napkin. “It’s... fine. Like I said, we don’t see each other much.”

“But when you do?” he presses, his eyes narrowing playfully.

“It’s professional,” I say firmly, though my cheeks heat at the memory of the other night.

“Uh-huh,” Noah says, clearly not buying it. “You sure about that?”

“Yes,” I say, my tone sharp enough to make him laugh. “Let’s talk about something else now.”

“Okay, okay,” he says, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “I’ll stop. For now.”

“Good,” I say, glaring at him, though there’s no heat behind it.

Noah shakes his head, still grinning. “You’re too easy to mess with, Annie. But seriously, if this guy gives you any trouble, you let me know, okay? I’ll take care of him.”

I laugh, the mental image of Noah squaring off with Cole too ridiculous to take seriously. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good,” he says, his tone teasing but his eyes serious. “Because I’ve got your back, no matter what.”

The sincerity in his voice makes my chest tighten again, and I nod, my throat too tight to speak.

Then my phone buzzes on the table, and my stomach tightens when I see Cole’s name on the screen.

“Speak of the devil,” Noah quips as I pick up the phone.

“Hello?” I answer, trying to sound normal.

“Annie,” Cole’s voice is brisk, cutting straight to the point. “I need you to pick up Robbie.”

“What?” I say, confused. “What’s going on?”

“There’s a work emergency,” he says, his tone clipped. “I’ve left him at the museum’s childcare center, but I need you to get there now.”

“But—”

“Now, Annie,” he says sharply, cutting me off.

The line goes dead before I can say another word.

I lower the phone slowly, staring at the screen in disbelief.

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