Page 14 of The Next Door Billionaire's Deception

The words took me by surprise when Melissa said them to me that morning. It was a move I didn't see coming, one I couldn't evade either. Still, I would’ve regretted it if I didn’t come. Our second meeting was a stark contrast to our first. She was open, warm…inviting. For a moment, I almost thought she was flirting with me.

Maybe it’s all a trick. A plot to get me to warm up to her and be too blinded to notice anything else.

Despite her rather carefree attitude, her meticulousness shows in her apartment. Even though she just moved in, everything seems to have a proper place.

A perfectionist, maybe?

“I didn’t expect to see you,” Melissa says.

She’s dressed in a royal blue dress that shows off her bare shoulders and stops just below her knees. Her ears sparkle with the small studs she has on. Full pink lips curve in a smile

“You invited me.”

“As a formality. Didn’t want you to feel left out.”

I place a hand on my heart. “Scathing words, as always. I’ll never expect any less.”

She gives me her hand, a smirk dancing on her lips. I know what she’s doing, but it’s her housewarming party, so I humor her. I take her hand and place my lips on them.

“If you keep saying such things in public, people will have a bad impression of me, Richard.”

“Be nicer with your words then.”

“Whatever do you mean?” she says with a false accent. “I’m always kind. People say I charmed my way out of the womb.”

I laugh, letting go of her hand. She’s still smirking; from that mischievous glint in her eyes, I can tell she’s up to something. She’s an enigma: one minute she’s snapping at me, the next she’s playful and almost flirty. What exactly is she up to?

“Let me introduce you. I’m sure everyone’s curious to know why an ex-hockey superstar is present at my housewarming party, although I have been praised for my networking skills. Care to escort me, Richard?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You’re already here. You should meet everyone else.”

That’s a no.

“Sure. It’s not like I have anything else to do.”

I offer her the crook of my arm, and she slides her arm in. Then, she takes the lead immediately, pulling me further into the apartment.

“Smile, Richard. There’s no need to look like you were coerced here,” she whispers to me as we approach a group of men chatting with wine flutes in hand, gathered around the edge of her couch.

People part for her to walk past. The presence she commands is impressive. How can she be a figurehead CEO? The group of men we approach makes way for us.

“Gentlemen, this is Mr. Richard Burnes. He’s a special guest of mine, so I hope you’ll treat him kindly.”

“A special guest? Are you saying we’re not special, Melissa?”

She laughs softly. “I could never say that, Harold! All my guests are special. Mr. Burnes is a newcomer to this scene, so I thought I’d break him in slowly.”

Ouch.

“You’re being unnecessarily considerate again, Melissa. A man should stand up for himself, regardless of whatever situation he finds himself in.”

“I thought you’d say that Harold. You know I’ve always been a kind person. Whether or not he’s a man doesn’t matter. What matters is potential. Am I right?”

“I suppose you’re, Melissa.”

Her eloquence is as impressive as it’s unsurprising. Besides that, her arm is still wrapped around mine. She’s fond of gesticulating as she speaks, so her manicured fingers occasionally brush against my arm. According to her, she’s breaking me in, but I don’t even get the chance to speak at all. All these people here are valuable connections for my company. And none of them know who I am.

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