The Billionaire's Secret Deal

against her lips, but the bitter taste of champagne was nothing compared to the bitterness swirling inside her chest. She stood

down at her with that familiar smile Tina used to believe was hers alone. Now, it was contorted, tarnished. His lips curved into a

an she had spent eight years building dreams with was now celebrating h

r is Pregnant

a blur of laughter and bright lights, but all she could see was the betrayal in front of her. The room spun i

is?" she whispered, ba

her, holidays, vacations, late-night talks crashing like b

gne. It wasn't enough

fixed on them. She couldn't look

oke through her haze.

man standing beside her, casually leaning against the wall. His sharp f

responded, defensi

nia before landing back on her. "Eight years for him?" His tone wasn

ghtened. "Wha

ets. "Nothing. Just seems like you're hav

nting to engage. "It's

But I've seen that look before Like

ssibly understand what she was going through? She s

tly to herself, but the words felt li

on. He wasn't looking at her anymore but at the couple

inia looked like they were in the perfect moment, basking in each other's compa

the man added, his tone casual, b

ddenly unsure. "W

hem. "Look at him closely. That

haniel's face. Was there a flicker of discomfort in his expression? A tightness aro

e admitted, her vo

ear masks all the time. You think they're happy, but they

her throat dry

"Just a guy who noticed a woman who looks

ly that, Shattered. Barely holding it together. Tina dropped her gaze,

here," she muttered after a b

an unreadable expression. Then, after a long pause, he strai

ter, "you're here now. So, wha

confused. "Wha

ou going to just stand here and let them have their

his boldness. "What are you

inting with mischief. "But why let them thin

her to be offended or intrigued.

and he offered her hi

of shock and disbelief ra

othing else, it'll stop you from standing here, wallowi

inia close, whispering something in her ear, oblivious to her presence

one moving on? Why should she be

down her glass and placing he

ase, his hand warm against hers. The moment they stepped onto the dance floor,

he pulled her close. "N

herself. Her heart still ached, but for the first time tonight, it wasn't just p

to fade into the bac

ople around them and more on the moment. Jesse wasn't like Nathaniel. He wasn't polished

" she said quietly, trying to

ath warm against her ea

ldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't real. That no matter how

Linia. Th

ldn't e

pulling her out of her tho

ere was something in his gaze-something steady,

rsta

e dance, letting the music carry her. She didn't know what

t invisib

her was

l's gaze from across the room. He was watching he

o

sse just as the music f

his dark eyes twinkling with

art still racing, but for the first time in

r next move would be. B

oing down wi