Page 25 of Billionaire's Second Chance

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"Greg, you must not have been very convincing when you told Damon I'm declining," I scolded him as soon as he walked into my apartment.

"That man doesn't take no for an answer," Greg stuttered and wiped off a bead of sweat from his forehead. "It's hotter than usual today."

Tell me about it!

"What can he possibly want from us?" I quizzed him. "We shouldn't have accepted."

"Ava, you and I both know that this is not the time to let personal issues get in the way of success. We can't afford that luxury." Greg lectured me as I paced around the living room.

Greg didn't know about my impulsive stalking episode from the other night. He was right about not letting big opportunities pass us, but the guilt of how I had gotten this opportunity was eating me alive.

"Do you think he'll offer more money? Why is he suddenly so interested in me?" I deliberated, hands on my hips. "When all else fails, let's call that mediocre Ava?"

"He wouldn't just settle, Ava. This is his movie. It's in his interest to pick the best star," Greg's calming voice helped my nerves settle.

I stopped pacing and shut the door to my room while I changed in silence. Every dress I picked out seemed like a worse choice than the last. My cheeks flushed with anxiety and fear. What if he knew it was me who blasted his photo to the media? Or, what if he remembered me? Did I look better now?

Despair rose to my throat, but I swallowed it and finally stepped into a tight, sleeveless black dress. I slicked my hair back in a ponytail and hung a pair of chandelier earrings.

This will have to do.

A horn blared, and Greg yelled from the other room. “Looks like he kept his word. A chauffeur is waiting outside.”

His jaw flew open when I walked out of my room. I punched his ribs and nudged him to start walking to the door.

"Well, well, I think Damon is in for a pleasant surprise tonight," he laughed.

We stepped into the fancy limo and threw mocking gazes at each other throughout the ride. Greg and I weren't the types for glitz and glamor, so this all seemed a bit over the top for us.

Once we reached our dinner location, I took a deep breath and held onto Greg's arm as we walked up the stairs to the entrance.

The White Lotus was as the name implied. Marble steps led up to the restaurant, with lights brimming on the sides. Inside, yellow chandeliers hung on the ceiling and reflected on the glass tables.

However, it wasn’t the sheer elegance of the restaurant that captivated me as I walked in. It was him—Damon—standing before me, dressed in a white shirt whose sleeves stopped with silver cufflinks over gray pants. Simple, yet dashing. A fitting outfit for a wealthy, down-to-earth billionaire.

I squared my shoulders. He wasn’t going to see me admire him. Good thing I was an actress.

Damon walked up to us and drawled his welcome. He shook hands with Greg and opted to hug me instead. I didn’t mind until he held onto my hand afterward. Sparks sizzled down my back from where he touched me.

“Ava! You clean up nice,” he mustered a joke, but I could see his eyes sparkle with excitement.

"Thank you," I smiled shyly.

"Follow me,” he motioned toward a private VIP booth while I latched onto Greg's arm.

"Very nice place," Greg attempted a conversation.

“It's alright. I just love their no-camera policy,” Damon explained.

Of course, he would—the perfect place for a rendezvous.

We reached our table, and Damon pulled a seat for me. "Please."

“I’m so glad you made it, Ava.” Damon's blue eyes fixated on mine only as if Greg didn't even exist.

I nodded curtly. I couldn’t trust my voice at the moment.

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