BOUGHT BY THE BILLIONAIRE

MORNING AFTER

---

*Chapter 18: MORNING AFTER*

Breakfast was awkward.

7am sharp. Rule #3. Chioma sat at the long dining table, staring at her plate. Pancakes. Maple syrup. Strawberries cut into hearts.

Daniel made them.

Daniel Okoye. Billionaire CEO. Made her pancakes at 6am and arranged them like she was 5 years old.

But he wouldn’t look at her.

He sat at the opposite end of the table. 10 seats between them. Newspaper up. Coffee black. Suit on even at breakfast. CEO mask glued to his face like last night never happened.

Like the forehead touch never happened.

Chioma poked her pancake. “You... you made these?”

Daniel didn’t look up from the paper. “Chef is off. Rule #29: I don’t do small talk.”

Oh. Right. Rule #29.

Silence. Only the sound of cutlery. Ada wasn’t down yet. Nurses said she could sleep in today.

Chioma took a bite. Perfect. Fluffy. Warm. He remembered she liked extra syrup.

Her throat hurt. “Thank you. For the pancakes.”

Daniel flipped a page. “I made too many. Waste is a sin. Rule #45.”

Lie. Chioma saw him watching the pan at 6am. Careful. Focused. Like he was defusing a bomb, not making breakfast.

The mansion felt bigger with 10 seats between them. Last night he was close enough that his forehead touched hers. This morning he was a continent away.

Chioma pushed her plate away. Appetite gone.

Daniel finally lowered the paper. Eyes cold. But his tie was crooked. He never wore crooked ties.

“You should eat,” he said. Voice flat. “You look tired.”

“I’m fine,” Chioma lied. Dark circles under her eyes. She didn’t sleep. Kept replaying his forehead on hers. His voice: _“Chioma”_ like it hurt.

Daniel’s jaw ticked. “Fine. Don’t eat. But Ada needs you strong. Rule #12: Health comes first.”

He stood up. Chair scraped. Walked past her without looking down.

His cologne hit her. Same one from last night. Rain + something expensive.

He stopped at the door. Back to her.

“Chioma,” he said quietly.

She looked up fast. Heart jumped.

Daniel still didn’t turn around. Hand on the doorframe. Knuckles white.

“Last night... nothing happened,” he said. Each word careful. Controlled. “Clause 7 is still active. Forget it.”

Chioma’s chest caved in. “Okay.”

“Good,” Daniel said. Then he left. Door clicked shut.

Chioma sat there, alone with cold pancakes and hot tears.

Forget it.

How do you forget a billionaire’s forehead on your skin at midnight? How do you forget him saying your name like a prayer?

She heard footsteps. Ada came in, wheelchair pushed by a nurse. Face bright.

“Morning Aunty Chioma! Morning Uncle Daniel!” Ada called out.

Daniel wasn’t there to answer. Just silence.

Ada frowned. “Where’s Uncle Daniel? He promised to teach me chess today.”

Chioma forced a smile. “He’s busy, baby. CEO things.”

Ada rolled to the table, looked at the pancakes. “Ooooh Uncle Daniel made hearts! He said girls like hearts.”

Chioma’s breath caught. He said that? About her?

Upstairs, Daniel’s office door slammed shut.

Chioma heard it through the ceiling.

Clause 7 said no feelings.

But he made heart pancakes at 6am and taught her sister chess.

Daniel Okoye was lying to himself.

And Chioma was falling harder every day.

*End of Chapter 18*

---