Page 24 of The Next Door Billionaire's Deception

“That makes sense. Are you sure there’s nothing else you want to ask me? Alcohol makes lips loose, you know.”

“Yet yours is clamped shut.” His tone is hard. “I think I’ve had enough wine.”

He places his flute on the table and rests his back on the couch, closing his eyes. I do the same. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had this much fun talking to a man. It’s always Celine and me. A man hasn’t been in the picture in a long time.

“Richard?”

“Yes?”

“What were you truly doing in my room that day?”

“Just as I said, I was looking for the bathroom.”

“Still sticking to your silly excuse? If you’re curious about my clothes size, you can just ask. Although that’ll just make you a pervert.”

“You’re the one who left your door open when you had strangers in your home. Someone else would’ve walked in there, even if it wasn't me.”

Oh, if only you knew, Richard.

“Are you trying to gaslight me into thinking I forgot to lock my door?”

“Do you remember locking it?”

“Well, yes.”

“The human memory is a tricky thing.”

Even though he deliberately broke into my room, he didn’t take anything. There’s no need to tell him about the security cameras in my apartment.

I’ve been mulling over the matter for days, and I’ve reached a conclusion, although it isn’t backed up by fact yet. Richard and the other man who broke into my room are somehow connected, even though I can’t prove it. The porcelain goose was also delivered to my house that same day. It can’t be a coincidence.

“Have you ever thought of donating to a charity? Many of your teammates have reached out to us to donate some of their earnings to charity, but I think it’s strange how we’ve never received correspondence from you.”

Richard’s response is fast. “Maybe I’m not that passionate about charity.”

“Why do I feel like that’s a lie? Do you not trust Emerald?”

“Are you pitching your company to me right now, Miss Durham?”

“Perhaps I am. Charity organizations provide an opportunity to give back to the community. Emerald Incorporation happens to have a splendid public profile. You’ll be glad you…”

He suddenly rises from his resting position and looms over me. My words die in my throat. There’s a strange glint in his eyes, and I can’t decipher the emotions swirling in their depths. I can make out his sharp cheekbones and lips in the dim lights of the living room. My throat suddenly goes dry, and I swallow.

“As I said earlier, I don’t care much for charity.”

“I … see …”

Why am I stuttering?

His face is closer than before. A tingle shoots up my skin as his fingers caress my palm. My heart races. His warm breath caresses my face. We stay like that for a while without moving. My heart pounds so loudly that I’m almost sure he can hear it.

The space between us shrinks. I stop breathing. My gaze drops to his lips.

“I need a snack,” I blurt out, scrambling away from him. “Gosh, how am I so hungry?”

My laughter sounds nervous and strained, and I flee from him like a frightened rabbit, heart racing as I make a beeline for the kitchen, hiding beside the fridge. Placing my hand on my chest, I shut my eyes and will my rapidly-beating heart to slow down.

What …was that? Did I really almost kiss Richard?

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