BELLA
“Thank you for the offer,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “But I’m not looking for an investor right now.”
There was something about his proposal that didn’t sit right with me, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on yet, but my instincts warned me to be cautious.
I braced myself, fully expecting him to push back, to try to change my mind with arguments and persuasive charm. But instead of pressing the issue, his lips, which had been set in a taut line curved slowly into a knowing smirk.
And then his gaze swept over me.
It wasn’t just a casual glance. No, his eyes moved leisurely, studying me. The way his stare lingered — dark and amused — made my skin prickle with heat. He wasn’t just looking. He was teasing. Remembering. Memorizing.
I knew without needing to hear a word
