Page 21 of My Billionaire Casino Boss

“Yes, you have,” I insist. “You’ve been distant, cold even. And then you kiss me like…like that. It’s confusing, Thomas.”

“I…” He starts to say something, but then his gaze shifts over my shoulder. I turn around to see what he’s looking at and my heart sinks.

Hillary is suddenly standing in the office doorway, her eyes wide as she takes in the sight of us. She looks from Thomas to me, her gaze hardening.

Thomas and I exchange a glance. This is what we wanted, isn’t it? For Hillary to see us together and believe we’re a couple. But now that it’s happening, it feels all wrong.

“Hillary,” Thomas starts, but she cuts him off.

“No, don’t bother explaining,” she snaps. “I get it. You’ve moved on. With her.”

“Thomas,” I start, but he shakes his head.

“Just trust me,” he whispers, his gaze flicking to where Hillary is still standing, watching us with a hurt expression.

I swallow hard, nodding. I can do this. For Thomas. For us.

Thomas is close to me now—his arm wraps confidently around my waist. He turns to her, “I didn’t want you to find out this way,” he says.

Hillary’s eyes flash with hurt and anger. “Find out what?” she demands. “That you’re dating her?”

Thomas doesn’t flinch. “Yes,” he says simply. “Lily and I…we’re together.”

I can see the moment the words sink in. Hillary’s face crumples and she takes a step back. “I can’t believe this,” she whispers. “You and her…”

Thomas tightens his grip on me, pulling me even closer. “I’m sorry, Hillary,” he says, but his gaze never leaves mine. “But it’s true.”

Hillary looks between us, her gaze lingering on where Thomas’s hand is resting on my waist. “I see,” she says finally. “Well, I hope you’re happy.” With that, she turns and storms off, leaving Thomas and me, alone.

For a moment, we just stand there, the silence stretching out between us. Then, Thomas lets out a breath, his grip on me loosening.

“We did it,” he says, his voice quiet. “She believes us.”

I nod, pulling away from him. “Yeah,” I say, my voice shaky. “She believes us.”

But as I watch Thomas watch Hillary’s retreating figure, I can’t help but wonder if we’ve just made a huge mistake. Because even though we’ve convinced Hillary that we’re together, I’m not sure I can convince myself that we’re not.

Thomas offers to drive me home. The ride is silent, the tension in the car palpable. Thomas keeps his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. I stare out the window, my mind racing.

The argument, the kiss, Hillary’s appearance, Thomas’s sudden affection…it’s all too much. There might be more to Thomas’s actions than just our arrangement. Could he have feelings for me?

I steal a glance at him, taking in his profile. His jaw is set, his eyes focused. But there’s a softness there, a vulnerability that I’ve never seen before. It’s the same look he had when he kissed me and held me close. Could it be possible?

Before I can dwell on it further, Thomas pulls up in front of my house. He turns off the engine and the silence in the car deepens.

“Thanks for the ride,” I say, breaking the silence. I reach for the door handle, but Thomas’s voice stops me.

“Lily,” he says, his voice low. I turn to look at him, meeting his gaze. He looks conflicted, his eyes searching mine. “About tonight…”

I shake my head, cutting him off. “It’s okay, Thomas,” I say, forcing a smile. “It’s all part of the act, right?”

He doesn’t respond, just watches me with that same conflicted look. I swallow hard, pushing the door open. “Goodnight, Thomas.” I step out of the car, closing the door behind me. I don’t look back as I walk up to my front door, my heart pounding in my chest.

Once inside, I lean against the door, closing my eyes. The events of the night replay in my mind, each moment more confusing than the last.

What is happening between us? What does this mean? And most importantly, what am I going to do about it? With a sigh, I push off the door and head upstairs. I decide I need sleep. I’ll figure everything out in the morning. As I crawl into bed, my mind is far from quiet. Images of Thomas fill my thoughts, his touch, his kiss, his words. I drift off to sleep with one thought lingering in my mind: could Thomas have feelings for me? If he does, what does that mean for us?

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