Page 14 of Falling for the Wrong Billionaire
She smooths her hair, avoiding my gaze.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She nods quickly. “Yeah. You?”
“Fine,” I say, lying. Because I’m not. I want to touch her again.
I don’t say that. I clear my throat. “I, uh... better go finish securing the rest of the wires.”
“Right.”
I turn and walk out of the room before I do something stupid. Like kiss her.
I can’t stop thinking about how different she makes me feel. How every time she glances at me, my heart races a little faster, how her smile stays with me long after she’s looked away.
And I can’t figure out why.
Part of me wants to pull away … to keep things professional. After all, this is work. But another part of me, the part that’s been quiet for too long, is telling me to take a chance. To stop running from what feels right. To stop being afraid.
I know what I need to do. I just don’t know if I’m brave enough to do it.
Chapter six
Lucy
I walk into the break room, hoping for a quiet moment to myself, but of course, it’s not that easy. Emma and Stella are sitting at the table, laughing and talking about something I’m not quite following. They stop when they see me, their expressions shifting to something far more mischievous.
“Lucy,” Emma says with a knowing grin, “you’ve got a fan.”
I freeze. I know exactly where this is going.
Stella raises an eyebrow, her smile widening. “Oh, don’t play coy with us. We saw Liam leave in a hurry after your little ‘meeting’ in the office. And you, well…” She pauses, glancing at Emma before turning back to me. “Let’s just say you were looking a bit... flustered when you came out.”
My heart sinks, and I try to ignore the blush creeping up my neck. It’s like they can read me better than I can read myself. Ican feel their eyes on me, waiting for an answer, but I refuse to give them the satisfaction.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say quickly, grabbing the kettle to make myself some tea. I don’t even look at them. “It was just... work stuff. You know, tech things.”
Emma doesn’t buy it for a second. “Right,” she teases, “tech things. Is that what we’re calling it now?”
I feel my cheeks burn even hotter, and I start to pour my tea, hoping the steam will hide my embarrassment. “It was nothing. Really.”
Stella leans back in her chair, her grin widening. “Mm-hmm, nothing. That’s why Liam was practically running out of here. You know, it’s funny... He looked like he was in a rush to get away from something. And you,” she gestures to me, “looked a little, uh, flushed. So, what happened?”
I should’ve known better than to come in here. But I’m stuck now. I set the kettle down and lean against the counter, my gaze focused anywhere but on them. My mind flashes to the moment earlier in the office — when Liam slammed into me, our bodies coming together in a way that sent my heart into overdrive. The way he held me, the way his eyes lingered on mine before the moment broke.
But I can’t think about that. I can’t. Not when my future is already written out for me. Not when the deadline is hanging over me like a storm cloud.
“I’m sure it you’re imagining things,” I say, my voice quieter now, not quite as confident. I glance up briefly to see Stella and Emma watching me with knowing eyes.
“I’m sure it was,” Emma agrees, but there’s a teasing glint in her eyes. “You know, I’m not blind. I can tell when something’s there.”
I feel my stomach twist at the thought. Something’s there? What does that even mean? And why does it make my chest tighten like this?
Stella laughs lightly, clearly enjoying this more than she should. “Oh, don’t worry, Lucy. I’m just messing with you. But I can tell you, that guy doesn’t leave the clinic like that unless it’s for a good reason. He was practically sprinting out of here.”
I force a smile, trying to deflect. “He probably just had other things to do. He’s busy.”
“Well,” Emma says, standing up and stretching, “whether you like it or not, there’s something going on with you two. I’m not sure what yet, but I’ll keep an eye on it.”
