The Billionaire's little secret

to squeeze into a crowded car. As she stood, clutching the steel pole, she felt the familiar rush of anxiety and stress ripple through her. Her head ached,

t the journey home was abo

ip on the pole. In that instant, she felt herself teetering, the ground slipping out from under her. She closed her eyes,

here," said a de

sure that seemed almost out of place in the midst of a rush-hour subway car. His expression was calm, almost slightly amused, as if he found t

composure. She pulled herself together, adjusting

imperious air about him, but there was also a glimmer of

he asked, with a

she hadn't ended up sprawled on the subway floor. "Yeah, I'm fin

ire noticed a flicker of understanding in his eyes,

he same world as him. After a few seconds of awkward silence, she nodded again in a hasty farewell and tried to

t urgency in his tone th

raising an eyebrow i

imperceptible smile that seemed to twist arou

me you forgot easily, and Claire had heard it before. It belonged to a billionaire known fo

eep her tone neutral, though sh

med to hold a bit more warmth, if only fleetingly. Claire felt a str

scape, but Ethan's gaze held her just for a mome

sometime," he said, and Cl

say, but Ethan cut her off w

e Claire could respond, the subway doors

She felt a mix of disbelief, curiosity, and a hint of nervous excitement. What had just happened? An

push away the thought, but it linger