Page 10 of Her Filthy Cold Billionaire Boss

I hung up, dropped the phone onto the bed, and let the quiet fill in around me. The lavender scent seemed richer now, as if it had been waiting for me to relax enough to notice. I curled onto my side and hugged a pillow, the way I used to when I was little, hiding from bad dreams or thunderstorms.

For a minute, I pretended that the pounding in my chest was just from caffeine, not the way Gareth’s eyes had made my pulse trip over itself. I told myself it was all in my head, that I’d get used to the mansion and the staff and even the boss.

But as I sank into the bed, I knew the truth. There was no getting used to it. There was just bracing for impact, hoping you didn’t shatter on the way down.

The next morning, I tiptoed through the house like a cartoon villain. I told myself I was just exploring, not snooping. The mansion was a maze, and even after two tours, I’d mapped maybe half the ground floor. There was a room off-limits, and the rumor was that Gareth only unlocked it for “special occasions.” If you ever wanted to see a billionaire’s heart, you had to find the one place or prize they never let anyone touch.

I padded into the ballroom, nearly silent, and let the door ease shut behind me. The air smelled like roses and something I couldn’t place. For a second, I tried to picture what the place looked like in motion; couples swirling, music pulsing, champagne bubbling over the rim of crystal flutes. In the right light, it would have felt like a portal to another century.

Curious, I crossed to the far wall, ran my fingers along the molding, and traced the outline of a carved wolf’s head. It was so detailed, I half expected it to blink.

“I’ve never seen anyone actually stand still in here.”

I spun, nearly leaping out of my skin. Leo Martin stood in the doorway, arms folded, a smudge of dirt across one cheekbone. He grinned, easy, and walked in as if the place belonged to him.

“You scared me,” I said, trying to slow my heart.

“Sorry. I always forget how sound carries in here.” He crossed to me, quick and confident, and for a moment I wondered if he’d spent half his life on this estate, cataloguing every creak and echo. “It’s the dome,” he said, nodding upward. “All the sound bounces off the marble. If you clap, you get reverb for days.”

I clapped, just to test it. The echo was instant, a perfect, fading repeat of the sound. “Neat,” I said, and meant it.

Leo smiled, eyes twinkling. “You should try dancing. It’s the best way to test the acoustics.”

I snorted. “I don’t dance.”

“Everyone can dance,” he said, taking a step closer. “Some just haven’t found the right rhythm. Or the right partner.”

I tried to laugh, but my throat was dry. “You sound like a motivational poster.” Why did he make me so uneasy?

He shrugged, unbothered. “Maybe. But you never know what you’re capable of until you try.”

There was something about the way he looked at me, open and a little bit wild, like the world was a dare. I found myself standing up straighter, trying not to let him see how unsteady I felt.

He offered his hand. “Just one spin around the floor?”

I looked at his palm, then at the door. “I really can’t dance, sorry.”

“Just give it a try.” His hand stayed out, patient, as if time had frozen for both of us.

I didn’t want to, but the no drama clause in the NDA had me unsure if this counted. But something in his expression, a flicker of calculation, a hint of challenge, made me hesitate.

“I’m serious,” I said, forcing a smile. “I can’t dance, and I have two weeks to plan the most impossible party of my life. If I get caught dancing on the clock, Gareth will turn me into a soufflé.”

He let his hand drop, but didn’t step back. Instead, he leaned in, lowering his voice. “A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t be working so hard. You deserve a little fun. And don’t call him Gareth, he doesn’t like it.”

There it was. The switch. Flattery, laced with just enough bite to see if I’d flinch.

I smiled, even though I didn’t feel it. “I’m not here for fun, Leo. I’m here to do a job.”

“Even the boss takes breaks, you know.” He tilted his head, searching my face. “You don’t have to be afraid of him.”

“I’m not,” I lied.

He watched me a second longer, then nodded, accepting my boundary. “Alright. But if you ever change your mind-” He flicked an imaginary hat brim, “-you know where to find me.”

He left with a swagger that was probably effortless, but looked practiced. The room was quieter without him, but the energy he left behind buzzed in my veins, like wasps angry that their nest had been destroyed.

I let out a breath, then crossed to the mirrors to check my reflection. Still me, still pink-cheeked and wild-haired, but my eyes looked…brighter? Or maybe just less lost. I squared my shoulders and decided to keep exploring, hoping Leo and I wouldn’t cross paths again.