THE BILLIONAIRE’S BARGAIN

CHAPTER 4: THE MORNING AFTER

Maya woke up alone.

She stared at the ceiling of Julian's guest bedroom — forty-two floors above Brooklyn — and tried to remember if last night had actually happened.

The red dress. The balcony. The almost-kiss. The phone.

Tanaka Holdings. The merger that mattered more than her mouth.

She rolled over. Checked her phone. 7 AM. Three texts from her best friend, Priya:

Did you die?

Did you marry him?

DID YOU KISS HIM?

Maya typed back: No. Almost. He got a phone call.

Priya replied immediately: I hate him.

Maya smiled. Then she heard voices.

Male voices. Coming from the kitchen.

She pulled on jeans and a sweater — her own clothes, thank God — and followed the sound.

Julian stood at the kitchen island. Same navy suit from last night, now wrinkled. Hair messy. He was arguing with a man Maya didn't recognize.

The stranger was handsome. Not Julian's sharp, dangerous handsome. Warm handsome. Brown eyes. Easy smile. A suit that said I have money but I know how to have fun.

"—the merger is off if my father doesn't believe this engagement is real," the stranger was saying. "And right now, Derek, it looks like you hired an actress."

"I didn't hire her," Julian said. "She's—"

"She's standing right here," Maya said.

Both men turned.

The stranger — Derek, apparently — lit up. "Ms. Chen. Derek Tanaka. I'm the reason you're wearing that ring." He looked her up and down. Not rude. Appreciative. "Julian, she's prettier than the photos."

"Those were taken without permission," Julian said, his voice tight.

"Everything in your life is taken without permission." Derek walked to Maya, took her hand, kissed her knuckles. "Charmed. Truly. I hope my future business partner is treating you well?"

"Like a prisoner with a credit card," Maya said.

Derek laughed. Julian did not.

"Derek was just leaving," Julian said.

"Actually, I was just inviting Maya to lunch." Derek's eyes held hers. "I want to get to know the woman who finally got Julian Voss to smile. Even if it is fake."

"He doesn't smile," Maya said.

"He did. Last night. On the balcony." Derek glanced at Julian. "I saw the photos this morning. You looked... human, Julian. Father will be pleased."

Julian's jaw ticked. "Lunch isn't in the contract."

"Neither is falling for your fake fiancée," Derek said lightly. "But here we are. Noon, Maya? That French place on Fifth?"

"I—" Maya started.

"She's busy," Julian said.

Derek smiled. "I wasn't asking you, Julian. I was asking Maya."

The room went quiet. Something electric passed between the two men. Old rivalry. New stakes.

Maya looked at Julian. His hands were in fists at his sides. His eyes were dark. Not storm-gray anymore. Something deeper.

"Sure," Maya said. "Noon sounds nice."

Julian's head snapped toward her.

"I mean," Maya added quickly, "if Julian doesn't mind. Since we're partners in this... arrangement."

"Julian doesn't mind," Derek said. "Do you, Julian?"

Julian looked at Maya. Really looked at her. Something unreadable passed behind his eyes.

"Do what you want," he said. His voice was flat. Controlled. "It's your month."

He walked out of the kitchen. A door slammed somewhere down the hall.

Derek whistled. "Well. That was more reaction than I've gotten out of him in ten years. You must be special, Maya Chen."

"I'm ordinary," Maya said. "He told me so himself."

"Julian Voss doesn't do ordinary." Derek headed for the elevator. "Noon. Don't be late. And Maya? Wear something that makes him lose his mind."

The elevator closed.

Maya stood alone in the kitchen, staring at the door Julian had walked through.

She should have said no to lunch. She should have stayed in her lane. She should have remembered that this was a contract, not a romance.

But Julian's fists. Julian's eyes. Julian walking away like she'd burned him.

Twenty-nine days, she reminded herself.

She grabbed her jacket and went to find him.