Page 78 of Billionaire's Second Chance

Damon and I moved through the crowd, stealing glances at each other, playing a game of hide and seek.

As the night wore on and the crowd got thinner, our smiles widened, anticipating the moment we'd be alone.

With the movie finally done, it wouldn't be long before we could walk hand in hand for all the world to see.

But not just yet.

The hours dragged on with Damon and I avoiding each other. I had just gone to the bathroom when I bumped into his muscular, inviting body on my way out. I immediately knew it was him, and a hot flash ran through my spine as I looked up into his eyes.

The noise suddenly became a mere echo. The sound of hands clasping together and voices shouting over the music faded into the distance. It was quiet in my head. It was only us now.

“Damon—”

“I love you, Ava,” he whispered in my ear with undeniable certainty, placing a hand over my belly.

“I love you too, Damon.” I held his gaze, our eyes speaking truths to each other.

"Let's dance!" Damon’s hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to his body. Hot sparks ran down my spine, causing goosebumps to spread all over my skin.

I looked around, expecting to find curious gazes. But everyone was busy drinking, dancing, and chatting. We could afford to steal this moment.

"So, he dances too," I joked.

"Oh, does he! "He winked at me, then spun me around, his body masterfully leading mine in tune with the beat.

We all danced until the early hours of the morning, and once everyone had left, Damon escorted me to his limo, and then, hand in hand, we walked into my apartment, greeted by the cutest little blue-eyed puppy.

***

I stood before the full-length mirror in a penthouse suite at the Roosevelt Hotel, nervously adjusting the delicate straps of my custom-made Dolce & Gabbana dress—a light pink flowing silk, comfortable yet revealing, sexy, and feminine. My hair was up in a stylish bun. Only a simple diamond necklace hung on my neck.

As I glanced at my reflection, my thoughts drifted to Damon.

Who would have ever thought?

The door creaked open. He stood there, looking like a dream in his black tux. He walked closer and stood behind me, his blue eyes meeting mine in the mirror. His gaze shifted to my dress, undressing me with a simple sweep of his eyelids. His hand reached around my waist, landing on my belly.

A whole new wave of desire swept through my body. The dress didn’t matter anymore. The premiere wasn’t that important, was it?

Damon must have caught the sparkles of desire in my eyes.

“You look stunning, Ava,” he said, a little over a whisper.

My cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. “Thank you, Damon. You don’t look too bad yourself.”

He chuckled, spun me around, kissed my neck, and extended his hand. "This is your moment. Don't miss it."

Damon had arranged a fancy private viewing event for the entire crew and booked rooms at the Roosevelt, where we'd get ready and only walk a few steps to the 'El Capitan Theater' on Hollywood Boulevard for our own premiere before the movie went into post-production.

"I'm so nervous to see it." I squeezed his arm in the elevator.

"I am, too," he confessed. "This one means the world to me."

Damon, Greg, and I walked around the corner to the theater, where dozens of other familiar faces greeted us. Greg had brought his plus one—a slim, puppy-eyed brunette by the name of Patty. Harry and Sandy bickered over some minute details while everyone took their seats and stared at the screen in anticipation.

My own anxiety reached a crescendo as the lights dimmed and the movie began.

'The Remedy,' the screen read. I shut my eyes. I wished I didn't have to watch myself. The weight of expectations pushed me deeper into my seat. What if I didn't like myself and my acting?

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