Page 38 of Billionaire's Desire

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“Poppy is my best friend.”

Tears sting the back of my eyes.

“That’s cool. Where is she now?”

I know that Max is just having a conversation, but this whole night is a can of worms, waiting to jump out and guilt me back into the submission of my grief.

My voice is barely above a whisper.

“Poppy’s gone.”

“Gone?” His voice is low.

I look up at his beautiful gray eyes.

Fuck I can’t do this!

I shouldn’t have done this.

Tears feel hot as they roll down my cheeks.

Max is immediately alarmed by the reaction.

“Maggie, what’s going-”

“I’ve got to go,” I say, practically jumping out of my seat.

“Wait…”

But I don’t hear the rest of his statement as I maneuver my way through the crowds of people pressing against each other on the dance floor.

I need to get out.

I need to get outnow.

This was a really bad idea.

Chapter 8

Max

Forsomereason,Ihad been looking forward to seeing Maggie at dinner time like it was the norm, but instead of the feisty, beautiful woman I was expecting to see when I opened my door, a different hostess stands there.

“Good evening, sir. I will be your hostess for the night.”

What the hell? Why wasn’t Maggie here?

But instead of barraging the poor lady who was just trying to do her job, I decided to step aside and let her in.

The name tag on her shirt readHilda.

Couldn’t be, could it?

I did not want to berate her with questions that could probably get Maggie in trouble so I stayed quiet as she explained all the dinner options for tonight.

“Lobster this… blah… blah… in almonds…”

To be quite honest, I barely paid any attention.

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