Page 26 of The Next Door Billionaire's Deception

“No. There’s a good chance she’ll find out.”

“I have a better idea, Mr. Burnes. Why not find out from Melissa herself?”

I stop walking. “But … how would that work? Last night, even as we were drinking, she kept sealed lips. What makes you think she’s opening up the next time I ask her?”

Anna flashes me a wide grin. “Instinct.”

I grunt. “No guarantees. Just find out what you can. If you get anything, you know what to do.”

“As you wish, my liege,” Anna replies in an exaggerated medieval accent, making a courteous bow, before leaving my office.

I slump on my chair, reflecting. There are not many ways I can find out without asking either Alex or Melissa herself.

I take off my glasses, cleaning the rims with a napkin.

I’ve known Alex since five years ago. Since then, we’ve become inseparable. A caring but tough person, we hit it off soon as we met, in a friendship that continues even now, as I'm the CEO of Vibrant Corp.

Without warning, however, he disappeared four years ago. We’ve had very little contact since then.

Hours later, I’m pulling up at the apartment garage. Melissa’s Chrysler is parked there.

I heave a sigh. She’s home.

Heading over to her apartment, my fingers pause over her doorbell button once I'm at her door.

This is a bad idea.

As if on cue, the door opens. Melissa's eyes widen on seeing me there, my hands still hovering over the doorbell.

“Richard? What’re you doing here?”

Wearing a plain t-shirt over casual jeans, her hair not in the ponytail I’ve grown used to seeing, she’s like a goddess in casual clothing. I try hard not to gawk.

I swallow hard. “Um, I just wanted to … talk.”

“Uh, yeah, sure, come in.”

I walk into her apartment, settling on the L-shaped couch.

“Hot chocolate?”

“Please. Thank you.” I nod.

She leaves for her kitchen.

Minutes later, she’s back, two cups filled to the brim with steamy hot chocolate in her hands. I take one and sip the hot liquid, nearly scalding my tongue. She laughs, throwing her head back.

“Don’t just take it like that!”

I set the cup on a nearby table. “Yeah. I can see why. It’s good stuff, though. Burning hot, but good. Thanks.”

Her smile is contagious. “You’re welcome. So, Neighbor-Who-Hates-Noise, what did you wanna talk about?”

“You’re not going to let that go, are you?”

She sips her chocolate, her eyes on me. She nods after sipping, the corners of her mouth twitching.

I glance at the spot on the wall where the picture hung yesterday. It’s gone.

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