Page 64 of The Billionaire's Destiny

“Just dancing?” he said, his voice raised.

My gaze dropped, avoiding his eyes. A flush prickled at my throat while I clung stubbornly to my defense. “Yeah, that’s it. I danced.”

He snorted. “Come now, Adelina; you weren’t just dancing. You put on a show—”

“I most certainly did not. I tried to dance with you,” I hissed.

“You tried too hard,” he quipped in a snarky tone.

Rocco’s remark hit hard, heat burning my cheeks. I replayed my bold moves in my head, and his indifference turned into a sharp ache of embarrassment. I’d made a spectacle of myself.He could have just danced with me.My lips twisted. “So what? It was a nightclub. I danced like everyone else. I didn’t know that guy would push you or that you’d—”

“Protect you?” he snapped. “That was my reaction. He doesn’t touch what’s mine.” He rolled his neck. “And we need to stop talking; there are cameras in here.”

My gaze darted to the elevator’s security globe. Neither one of us said anything to each other the rest of the ride to the penthouse. When the doors slid open, I stepped out, and my attention went to him. He looked stressed and exhausted, and my heart dropped. “Maybe we should rest and talk about this in the…” The words faded as I spotted Isla waiting in the living room. Annoyance surged.After a very brief nightclub mishap, he brings in Isla for damage control?

“Can whatever this is wait?” I called over to her.

She averted her eyes.

“No, Adelina it can’t. Isla’s here because I called her. As I told you before, nothingwe do is private in public.”

“Fine, I’ll go to bed.” I strode past the couch, but Rocco’s voice stopped me.

“Take a seat, Adelina.” His tone bordered on scolding, making me bristle.

I shot him a glare and placed my hands on my hips. “Take a seat, please.”

His jaw tightened. “Fine. Go to bed.”

I lifted my chin and sat down on the couch across from Isla. Mainly to hear if I needed to do something. Rocco sat down next to me, and she handed him some papers that he glanced through before placing them down on the coffee table.

“All right. Catch me up on what’s out there.”

I grimaced. “Out there? It hasn’t even been an hour.”

Isla looked at me, then shifted in her seat. “I got some notifications about the incident at the club. There’s a blurry video, but it’s clear that you two are in it with him. It had about thirty thousand views the last time I checked.”

“Video?” I frowned. “Already? But there were no phones allowed in the club.”

“There’s always a way,” Isla said softly and cleared her throat. “Gunnar said he’s in touch with Mark to get the club surveillance for the lawsuit.”

“What lawsuit?” I said, frowning. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Rocco was protecting me. He barely touched that guy.”

Rocco blew out. “The man will sue without a doubt.”

I frowned. “But he pushed you.”

Isla’s expression turned empathetic. “Yes, and we will fight it, Adelina, but carefully. Maintaining a positive public image is vital. It’s very easy to get canceled these days.”

“Just in time for awards season,” Rocco said and cursed.

My skin prickled, imagining a string of articles tearing us apart, and with Rocco’s practically stellar public image, they’d definitely label me as the reason for his changed personality. “But he hit Rocco.”

“I believe you, but that doesn’t sell headlines.” Isla opened her phone and typed on it. “The guy is talking online and…Tela Newsis already claiming an exclusive interview.”

I hadn’t even considered it possible, but I also couldn’t rule out public backlash, even for the most minor offense.

“We’ll donate and set up some photo ops. What do you think, Rocco?” Isla asked, typing on her tablet. “I’ll personally reach out to our media contacts to secure positive press coverage. Flood the zone, drown out any negativity.”