The Billionaire's little secret

n Blackwood kept swirling in her mind-his commanding presence, his voi

een, her thoughts wandered back to the way he had looked at her, as though he saw something beneath the

e could separate her personal feelings from her work. She would get through this project, handle

appened. Lisa had placed a new file on her desk, one

said. "Blackwood's team wants to meet with us again next week. They'

ht to hide it. "I'll get right on it," she

sure was building, but Claire was used to handling stress. She could push through it. Still, t

y begun to darken. Claire's phone buzzed in her purse as she made her way

text fr

still thinking

und her fading into the background. Was she ready for this? She had no idea. Bu

ed back, then

s later, his

I know a quiet little café nea

ced. Tomorrow. Sh

business meeting to prepare for, and now, she had a dat

The warm scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries filled the air, and the soft murmur of conversations creat

e part of the billionaire mogul, even in this casual setting. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his tailored s

asual elegance to his movements th

th, yet there was something more familia

rising despite her best efforts. "I

l-about coffee, about the weather, about work. Claire tried to stay focused, but every glance toward him sent a s

s voice laced with curiosity. "What's

e said lightly, though the question intrigued her. Ethan seemed to be studying her, his eyes nar

d. "You'd be

etween the two of them. It wasn't like any conversation she'd had with clients bef

relaxed, but his gaze never left her. "

r eyes. "Oh? An

ed forward slightly, his tone lowering. "Because I think there's more to you than

quickly suppressed it. "I'm just trying to do my job

med genuinely interested in her as a person, no

I know it's not just another client for you," he continued, his v

t how much this project was starting to get under her sk

quirked into a smile, one that was faint but

haring little bits of personal history, of ambitions and fears. Ethan's presence was like a magnetic field, pu

ed at her, every word he spoke, she found it harder to focus. She was no

his smile lingering. "I'm glad we did this,

of what to say. All she could

t as though the world outside the café had ceased to

sense that this was only the beginning. Of what, she wasn't sure, but she c