The Billionaire's Low-Budget Assistant

Chapter 7: The Billionaire's Warning

The moment Damian reached for the curtain, Addie threw herself in front of it.

"No!" Both hands flew out as if she could block his gaze. "Big sir, please don't look behind the cloth! There is nothing there! Just old pots and pans! Very dirty pots! They have fish grease and black grease! If you touch the curtain, the grease will jump onto your beautiful suit and make another stain!"

She shook her head so hard loose strands escaped her ponytail.

"I cannot afford another billionaire shirt, sir. Please..." She pointed at her own face. "Look at my face instead. I have a very honest face. The wall is boring."

Damian didn't answer. His gray eyes stayed fixed on the faded fabric. She had moved too quickly. Too desperately. Not the reaction of someone protecting cookware.

He took one slow step forward. Addie matched it, planting herself firmly.

"No closer! Personal space is very healthy, big sir."

Another step. Again she blocked him. Her heart pounded so violently she was sure he could hear it. Behind the curtain, the room was too silent.

He studied her. Terrified, yet refusing to move. Just as his fingers were about to reach the fabric —

"Damian! Darling!"

Maya's shrill voice shattered the silence from the hallway. The door swung open wider and she swept inside without an invitation, pressing a silk handkerchief to her nose as if the air offended her.

Her heels clicked against the worn linoleum. She glanced around once, face twisting in disgust. "Oh my God. How can anyone live in a place like this? It smells like cheap oil and poverty."

Hearing Maya, something in Addie snapped back into place. Good. As long as Maya kept talking, she wasn't looking at the curtain.

"Hey! This is not a garbage dump, loud-shoe lady!" Addie planted both hands on her hips. "I clean this room every day. If your rich nose doesn't like it, you know where the door is!"

Maya's eyes widened. "You filthy, uneducated peasant! How dare you speak to me like that?" She turned to Damian. "Look at her! She's completely unhinged. We need to leave this disgusting place immediately."

Damian didn't spare Maya a glance. His attention stayed on Addie. On how she refused to move from that curtain. She wasn't protecting old pots and pans. She was protecting someone or whatever is behind that curtain.

After a long moment, he lowered his hand. "Not because he believed her, but because this wasn't the right time.". The hallway outside was crowded with curious neighbors pretending not to watch. Maya was making a scene. And whatever Addie was hiding wasn't going anywhere.

"We're leaving." His calm voice sliced through Maya's outburst.

Maya blinked, then a satisfied smile spread across her face. "Finally. Be grateful Damian is too busy to deal with you today." She turned on her heel and swept out.

Damian remained for another heartbeat. Just before ducking beneath the low frame, he stopped. Without looking back immediately, he said quietly, "You've told me too many lies today, Addie Lee."

Only then did he turn his head. His cold gray eyes locked onto hers. His gaze flickered briefly toward the faded curtain before returning to her face.

"I don't know what you're hiding, but I intend to find out. You can hide. You can lie. You can run. It won't change the outcome. The Sterling family doesn't stop until it finds the truth. And when I find yours..." He paused just long enough for her heart to stop. "...I hope you're prepared to face the consequences."

Without another word, he stepped into the hallway. The bodyguards followed, shoes echoing down the corridor. Within seconds, they were gone.

The apartment fell deathly silent. Addie's knees buckled. She collapsed onto the edge of the mattress, hand pressed against her racing heart.

Only after several seconds did the faded curtain move. A tiny face peeked out.

"Sister Addie?" Nyla stepped out slowly, clutching her worn doll tightly. Her big brown eyes were filled with worry. "Is... is the mountain man gone now?"

Addie opened her arms without hesitation. Nyla ran straight into them.

"Yes, baby." She hugged the little girl tightly, burying her face in Nyla's soft hair. "He's gone. But he almost found you."

She tried to laugh, but it came out weak. "The mountain man has eyes everywhere now. Big eyes... little eyes... camera eyes... I don't even know anymore."

Nyla hugged her neck. "Will he come back?"

Addie didn't answer right away. She looked toward the closed door, as if she could still feel his presence outside. A chill crept down her spine.

"He will," she whispered, arms tightening protectively around Nyla. "And next time... he'll come with even more questions."

****

Outside the building, a black SUV pulled away from the curb. Damian sat silently in the back seat, staring out the tinted window. The image of Addie shielding that faded curtain replayed over and over in his mind. People didn't protect empty corners with that kind of desperation.

His eyes hardened. Whatever was behind that curtain had just become Damian Sterling's next investigation.