Page 139 of Railing the Billionaire

But the chorus played through my head, and I was fairly sure it would be trapped there, an earworm I wouldn’t be able to shake for the rest of the evening. That was fine, as was his use of that awful nickname. Nothing could dull the high I felt over today’s triumph.

I was on the cusp of everything I’d spent my entire career working toward, and I couldn’t wait to share the news with Layana.

“Here we are.” Wallace pulled up to the curb of Mellifluous and put the vehicle into park.

“Thank you, Wallace,” I said, rising from my seat.

“Wait there, I’ll get the door for you.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll text after dinner.”

“Will Ms. Hartley be joining you?” He was completely turned around in his seat, beaming at me.

“It’s best not to make assumptions.”

He cracked a laugh.

I climbed out of the vehicle and went inside. Layana wasn’t waiting at the bar, and had not yet been seated at our table. This was not surprising. Knowing her, she’d be fifteen minutes late to our reservation time.

Upon being seated, I sipped on the provided water, told the waiter to return after my companion arrived, and watched in the direction of the door.

I imagined how the evening would progress. She’d arrive late, think nothing of it, then order an extraordinary volume of decadent and sugar-laden food options. She’d regale me with a story from her day spent with the friends she adored so much, filming with Juno or bonding with Morgan.

I’d watch as her eyes rolled back and she moaned in pleasure over each indulgent bite, in awe over everything about her. She did exactly what she wanted and felt no guilt or qualms over whether those choices were correct. They were right for her, and she knew it. She called out the restraint I showed in every aspect of my life, pinpointing how that rigidness could be detrimental to me if I allowed it to be.

It’s why I’d called Wallace instead of driving myself tonight. I was trying to be better, to be more open to others, all because of her.

I’d tell her about my breakthrough in the lab, and how she’d inspired it.

I’d tell her I loved her.

And then…I didn’t know what would happen.

It was reckless to confess feelings she may not share, exposing my heart and admitting that she could still choose to allow our time together to expire. She could take the payments for our work together and move on to some other new and fun adventure.

I hoped that instead she’d see what I saw, that two opposing forces could not only repel each other, but find beauty in the balance between opposition and attraction. What made us right for each other wasn’t the ease of falling, it was the challenge that forced us to grow, and grow together.

Fifteen minutes passed.

Then another twenty.

A thread of unease formed in my chest, slowly gathering into a knot. Perhaps filming with Juno had run longer than expected. I tamped down my impatience, refusing to allow petty anxieties to dampen this day.

Layana would come.

I checked my phone and found no new calls or texts. Any minute now, she had to arrive.

After watching and lingering, the waiter returned. Hesitation muted his smile as he asked me again if I would be willing to order something, gently suggesting if I didn’t order something soon, the table would be better used to serve someone else.

He wasn’t wrong. It was too soon to give up.

I ordered a bottle of whatever vintage Cabernet he suggested, letting it sit as I watched diners enter and exit the restaurant.

As the minutes passed, the knot of unease in my chest turned into a ball, then a twisting, churning boulder. Sure, Layana was chronically tardy, but she’d never left me waiting for forty-three minutes before. Had something happened to her?

For a moment I debated if she’d be annoyed if I texted, but immediately discarded the thought.

Me: Are you all right?

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