THE BILLIONAIRE DADDY'S ADDICTION

Chapter 9

The café was small, tucked away on a quiet street in the Village. Ariella stood outside for three full minutes, arguing with herself.

Go home. This is stupid. He's a billionaire. He's too old.

She pushed open the door.

Noah was already there, sitting at a table by the window. He'd dressed down, jeans, a simple gray sweater, no watch. He looked almost normal. Almost approachable. Almost like someone she could pretend wasn't worth four point seven billion dollars.

He stood when he saw her. Smiled. Pulled out her chair.

"You came."

"I'm here for the coffee," she said, sitting. "Nothing else."

"Of course."

The waitress appeared, and Noah ordered for both of them, two cappuccinos and a plate of pastries. Ariella watched him, suspicious.

"You didn't ask what I wanted."

"I guessed." He shrugged. "You seem like a cappuccino person. Strong, but with a little sweetness."

She hated that he was right.

They talked for two hours. Not about money or debts or the future, about nothing. Books. Music. The best pizza in New York. Her favorite place to think. His secret love of bad reality TV. She laughed more than she had in months. He looked lighter, younger, almost happy.

When the waitress brought the check, Noah paid without looking at it. Ariella started to protest, but he held up a hand.

"Let me have this one thing," he said. "Please."

She sighed. "Fine. But next time, I pay."

He raised an eyebrow. "Next time?"

She blushed. "I didn't mean,"

"I'd like there to be a next time."

She looked at him, really looked, the way he'd looked at her. She saw the loneliness behind his eyes, the hope he was trying to hide, the fear that she'd say no.

"Okay," she said quietly. "Next time."

His smile was like sunrise.