Page 46 of The Next Door Billionaire's Deception

“Damn, you scared me, Melissa! Good evening. What’s up? Why were you in your car?”

I debate in my head about the best way to approach him. Should I ask him straight or indirectly?

To hell with it. “Can I stay with you for a while?”

My enemies won’t expect me to stay in the same apartment. I just hope this reasoning doesn’t come back to haunt me.

“Who would do such a thing?”

I sip the milk from the glass Richard gave me, then take a deep breath.

“I don’t know.”

He pauses, leaning forward, his face resting on his hands.

After a while, his face jerks up. “Why didn’t you go to a family member or something? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining or anything. I li…”

What’s on my mind is finding an explanation for his question. It’s not until moments later that his pause registers to me.

“You?”

A short groan escapes his throat.

“I, um, like having you here.”

I give him a warm smile. “Thank you. For that. And for allowing me to stay.”

“Yeah, anytime. But as I was asking, don’t you have any family? Friends, that you can inform?”

“None in New York. You’re the only one I could meet on such a short basis. It’s a life-and-death situation.”

“Dreadful. But what would they want from you? I mean, yeah, you’re the CEO of essentially what’s the biggest nonprofit organization in the U.S., but what did they want? Why would someone do that?”

“Emerald is more than just a nonprofit organization. It’s –”

I stop short.

“It’s what?”

“It’s, um, also a philanthropy foundation that deals with a lot of money, even if it’s all for aid.”

He regards me. “So you think it was perhaps a robbery, or worse, a botched hit attempt?”

“I don’t know either. To be honest, I’m scared for my life.”

Richard leans in closer. Taking my trembling hands in his, his blue eyes meet my green ones.

“No matter what, I won’t let any harm come to you.”

His grip tightens around mine. Somehow, his presence assures me. He makes me feel …safe.

“Do you think your brother should know?” he asks, in a low voice.

I haven’t thought of Alex.

“No. He shouldn’t know. I don’t want him worried. Please.”

“Hmm. Okay.” He slowly let go of my hand. “Drink your milk. It’ll help you relax.”

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