Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't Afford Me by Thedora Birnir

Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Carit AffordNow

Chapter 88 Ruining Herself

“Hey!” Hadley let out a short laugh, beyond frustrated. “So be it! Eric can do whatever he wants. I've got my

own path to tread,” she muttered to herself.

Reaching her destination, Hadley stepped off the bus and made her way into the office tower, where the dance

stuawaited on the fifth floor.

Upon entering the elevator, she was immediately greeted by a familiar voice.

“Hadley?”

Looking ahead, Hadley saw Linda beaming at her. “Fancy meeting you here. It's been ages.”

Hadley offered her only a fleeting look and remained silent.

Linda’s smile quickly faded, replaced by a scornful tone. “Really, not even a hi? | said hello, can’t you at least

acknowledge that?”

Facing Linda squarely, Hadley replied, “Save your courtesies. There's no need for pretenses. Eric isn’t here, and

Nyla isn’t either... Who are you trying to impress?”

“You-"

Interrupting the other woman, Hadley cocked her head. “Or is it that you've been pretending for so long, you've

convinced yourself you're genuinely decent? That must be exhausting.”

“You-"

Linda’s face went pale, and then turned red with anger.

With a dismissive scoff, she retorted sharply, “You're here for an interview, correct?”

A smug grin crept over Linda's face. “Well, I'd suggest you stop wasting your time. Because in Srixby... you

won't find a job.”

Hadley stopped in her tracks. “What do you mean by that?”

“What do | mean?” Linda folded her arms with a smirk, enjoying the moment. “Isn't it obvious? Do you not see

how dire your situation is?”

She looked Hadley up and down with clear disdain. “While | won't critique your talents, you did graduate from an

esteemed arts college in Blathe. Is it possible you're so inept that no one will employ you?”

Frustration furrowed Hadley’s brow. “What are you trying to say?”

Her patience was wearing thin. It was apparent Linda was toying with her.

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“Just get to the point, or drop it.”

“Alright, Ill explain,” Linda said, her smirk growing. “It’s Eric’s doing-every venue in Srizby related to dance has

been instructed not to hire you.”

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Hadley gasped, disbelief setting in. This couldn't be happening...

Then it all clicked. The continuous rejections over the last few days weren't dde to her lack of ability. It wasn’t

her fault.

It was Eric. He had systematically cut off all her potential opportunities,

What was his motive? To drive her into desperation?

A chill ran through her as she clenched her fists, her complexion turning pale.

Seeing Hadley’s dismay, Linda chuckled lightly.

She said lightly, “Honestly, | wasn’t planning on telling you, but watching you scramble aimlessly, fighting so

fiercely... | just couldn't hold back.”

She then fetched a pair of sunglasses from her purse and slipped them on.

As the elevator doors parted, Linda exited first.

Left alone, Hadley remained motionless, her face ashen.

What was the purpose of this interview now? It seemed utterly pointless since she wouldn't get the job anyway.

Rage and frustration surged within her, compelling her to confront Eric directly.

As she exited the building, Hadley dialed his number.

The phone just kept ringing-no answer.

It wasn’t that Eric was deliberately avoiding her, though; he was simply tied up.

With a frustrated sigh, Hadley put her phone away.

He expected her to be available later tonight?

If that was his game, she would play along. Tonight would be the night.

At six o'clock, Eric's call finally cthrough.

“Hello.”

“I'm on my way up,” Eric said curtly. “Get ready, and we'll set off.”

Hadley let out a quiet scoff, “Fine.”

Upon arriving at her apartment, Eric found the door unlocked. He nudged it open without effort. “You should lock

your door. It’s not safe to—"

He stopped mid-sentence as he caught sight of Hadley, rigid and cold on the sofa, her gaze fixed on him.

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He hesitated, but then approached slowly “What's going on? He sat opposite her “Bad day? You seem upset

Narrowing her eyes, Hadley was fed up with his act. She'd had enough!

Struggling to control her mounting anger, the inhaled deeply, striving to keep her tone steady. “Eric, please, just

letgo

Eric's eyebrow arched, intrigued by her ples “What do you mean?*

Hadley’s hands were clenched so tightly that her wants were pressing into her skin

“You were behind this,” she managed to say. “Yon were the one who told all the dance venues in Srizby not to

hire me, weren't you?”

Eric's expression darkened. “How did you find out? Who told you?”

Hadley exhaled sharply. Did that even matter?

“It’s not important who told me, Eric.” She dismissed the how of her discovery. The real issue was his

interference in her career. “I need to work. | need this job and | need to be left alone. Please, just stop meddling”

“Your job?” Eric looked puzzled, almost offended. “You refer to those gigs as your job? Hadley, you're ruining

your career as well as yourself dancing in those clubs!”

“I'd rather take that risk!” Hadley countered, her voice trembling with fury.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Did he assshe was ignorant? She was painfully aware that places like Galant weren't exactly noble-

notorious if anything, but circumstances had forced her hand.

Choking back emotion, she pleaded, “Please, just stop this! You're trying to manipulateback into your life,

right? Well, it won't work. Even if you corner me, stripof all my choices, | will not return to you!”

Eric clenched his teeth.

Silence hung for a beat before he let out a slow breath, his intense eyes still fixed on her.

“We can discuss this another time.” His tone was even, betraying nothing. “For now, get ready. We need to

leave.”

“l won't!”

Hadley turned away sharply. If he couldn’t grant her wishes, why should she comply with his demands?

“No?” Eric's chuckle was dry, devoid of amusement. He paused to observe her.

Her attire was casual-a simple T-shirt and jeans, just a hint of makeup-likely she had been out before this

confrontation.

Indeed, she always managed to look presentable, regardless of her outfit.

Eric gave a brief nod, and then abruptly stood and approached her

“What are you doing?” Hadley’s instincts screamed danger.

“I'm offering you one final opportunity-stand and follow me.”

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He hesitated, but then approached slowly. “What's going on?” ste sat opposite her bad day too www.we

Narrowing her eyes, Hadley was fed up with his act she’d had enough

Struggling to control her mounting anger, she inhaled deeply, striving to keep her four gristy box just letgo.”

Eric's eyebrow arched, intrigued by her plea. “What do you mean

Hadley’s hands were clenched so tightly that her nails were pressing into her skin.

“You were behind this,” she managed to say. “You were the one who told all the bars over bot hire me, weren't

you?”

Eric's expression darkened. “How did you find out? Who told you?”

Hadley exhaled sharply. Did that even matter?

“It’s not important who told me, Eric.” She dismissed the how of her discovery. The and bone wo be interference

in her career. “I need to work. | need this job and | need to be left alone. Po po soothing

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

“Your job?” Eric looked puzzled, almost offended. “You refer to those gigs as your jo Hadry, you're runing your

career as well as yourself dancing in those clubs!”

“I'd rather take that risk!” Hadley countered, her voice trembling with fury.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Did he assshe was ignorant? She was painfully aware that places like Galant weren't exacly sobe- notorious

if anything, but circumstances had forced her hand.

Choking back emotion, she pleaded, “Please, just stop this! You're trying to manipulateback to your fe right?

Well, it won't work. Even if you corner me, stripof all my choices, | will not return to your

Eric clenched his teeth.

Silence hung for a beat before he let out a slow breath, his intense eyes still fixed on her

“We can discuss this another time.” His tone was even, betraying nothing For now, get ready. We need to

leave.”

“l won't!”

Hadley turned away sharply. If he couldn’t grant her wishes, why should she comply with his demands?

“No?” Eric's chuckle was dry, devoid of amusement. He paused to observe her

Her attire was casual-a simple T-shirt and jeans, just a hint of makeup-likely she had been out before this

confrontation.

Indeed, she always managed to look presentable, regardless of her outfit

Eric gave a brief nod, and then abruptly stood and approached her.

“What are you doing?” Hadley’s instincts screamed danger.

“I'm offering you one final opportunity-stand and follow me.”

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“I won’t-ahh!”

She was cut off mid-sentence as Eric scooped her up effortlessly, as if she were merely a child.

“Eric! Letgo!” Hadley’s cheeks reddened with both rage and shame.

A slight smile played on Eric's lips. “Stop struggling. If you're serious about continuing to dance, you'll need to

cwith me.”

Hadley froze. What did he mean by that?

Her confusion gave him just enough tto carry her straight out the door.

Neighbors turned their heads; smuttered under their breath, others pointed, and a few stared openly.

Hadley’s face was aflwith humiliation. “Where are you taking me? Letdown-I can walk on my own “I

can’t trust you to stay,” Eric responded, shaking his head. “If | let you go, you might run away. I'm not in the

mood to chase after you.”

He didn’t pause as he walked her to his car, opened the passenger door, and gently set her inside, securing her

seatbelt.

Hadley chewed on her lip. “Where are we headed?”

With a knowing smirk, Eric replied, “To a place you'll appreciate. Trust me, you'll enjoy it.”

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