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

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Chapter 145 Let Destiny

Take Its Course

Hadley was back on her feet by the afternoon.

She felt significantly better, prompting Elissa to handle her discharge documents. “Are you sure you want to

leave? Maybe they should keep you under observation a bit longer?”

“We're in an observation room,” Hadley replied with a laugh. “I think I've been observed enough. The doctor said

I should just continue with smedications and I'd be fine.”

“Okay, I'll finalize everything.”

“Let's head out together. | hardly brought anything with me.”

“Sounds good.”

Once they completed the discharge process, they treated themselves to a taxi ride back to the hotel.

During the ride, Elissa said, “Ms. Nicolson considers this a work-related incident, so the stuwill cover all the

costs.”

“That's a relief.”

They smiled at each other as they got into the taxi.

Despite the relentless rain outside, Elissa couldn't help but ponder. “This whole thing was just odd. You didn’t eat

anything out of the ordinary, right?”

Considering food poisoning was a common cause, and Hadley’s issue had escalated to gastritis, it remained a

puzzle.

Puzzled, Hadley asked, “Did you grab my phone by any chance?”

“Got it right here.”

Elissa retrieved the phone from her purse and handed it over.

“Appreciate it.”

Accepting her phone, Hadley decided it was tto unblock Denver as she promised. From now on, she resolved

to handle things as they cand let destiny take its course.

She was about to set the phone aside when it buzzed with a new message.

Denver had sent a text.

“Am | off your blacklist now, Hadley?”

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A smile broke across her face. She wondered how many attempts he had made before this one finally got

through.

She replied, “You are, Mr. Moran.”

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Denver's reply calmost instantly.

“I can’t tell you how glad that makes me!”

Following his text, a mappeared, depicting a little character jumping joyously.

She could sense his excitement even through the digital exchange.

Elissa glanced over curiously. “Who's that you're texting?”

Caught a bit off guard, Hadley hesitated.

Elissa chuckled and winked. “No need to be shy, | can guess. Is it the helicopter pilot? Don’t be shy! He's quite

a catch!”

Hadley couldn't help but laugh, her phone buzzing again with another message from Denver. “I've got some

things to handle but will call you later!”

“Sure.”

Stowing her phone, Hadley sighed deeply, mixed feelings about her decision swirling inside her.

They entered the bustling hotel lobby.

Elissa, linking arms with Hadley, said, “Ms. Nicolson thinks we might perform tomorrow or the day after,

depending on the weather. Everyone's anxious with the storm going on.”

As they delved deeper into the lobby, a curious scene unfolded.

A group was gathered around the bulletin board, their lively chatter filling the air.

The faces around were alight with the unmistakable spark of juicy news.

“What's that about?” Elissa stretched her neck to see better. “Something's definitely going on over there.”

She nudged Hadley. “Let’s go see, shall we?”

“Sure.”

They weren't busy, and it seemed like all their colleagues were already gathered around. They might as well join

the fun.

However, before they could get close, a strident female voice cut through the air.

“Stop looking!”

“Ah!”

Everyone flinched.

“Didn’t you hear me? | said stop looking!”

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Chapter 145Lst Destiny Take its Crarse

“That voice...” Hadley and Elissa looked at each other and said, “Alitat”

They then saw their colleagues holding what appeared to be photographe

“They look like photos...”

No sooner had Elissa commented than they witnessed Alita desperately trying to grab the photos from others.

“Give those back! You have no right to look at those That's an invasion of my privacy

“Invasion of your privacy?” one of the colleagues asked, holding up a photo, “We're not the ones who took

these!”

“That's right. They were just left out in the open here for everyone to see,” another added, waving a photo in

the air.

“Wow, check this out!”

“Can’t believe it... She looks so different from how she appears in these outfits!”

Alita was on the verge of exploding as she darted back and forth. “Return them to me! Now!”

In the commotion, several photos flew out of people's grasp, fluttering to the floor.

One fluttered down near Elissa.

She stooped to retrieve it. “Look at this, Hadley,”

Together, they examined the photo, their expressions turning to astonishment. The content of the photo was

indeed startling.

The image captured Alita in a hotel room with a man.

“That guy looks familiar. Sfilm director maybe?” Elissa whispered.

“He’s actually a producer,” someone said.

“Ah.” Elissa acknowledged. “What a scandal!”

“It is, isn’t it?” another chimed in with a chuckle.

“Shut up!” Alita retorted, her eyes blazing as she fixed her gaze on the commenter.

“What? Did | say anything wrong? Maybe you were more than eager to be in his company...”

“Shut your mouth, or I'll do it for you!”

“Try me!”

Chaos erupted as they charged at each other.

Amidst the commotion, a voice called out, “Enough, Alita! Break it up!”

“Ms. Nicolson...”

“Ms. Nicolson!”

Blanche and Stella approached, their expressions unreadable and stern.

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< Chapter 145 Let Destiny Take Its Course

The chatter in the room ceased immediately.

Blanche examined the photo handed to her by Elissa, and then scoffed coldly, “Alita, follow me.”

Alita responded stiffly, “Yes, Ms. Nicolson.”

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

As they departed, murmurs filled the room.

“What will Ms. Nicolson do with her?”

“Surely, she'll let her go.”

“That's a bit severe, isn't it?”

“Severe? Ms. Nicolson has zero tolerance for us mixing personal affairs with professional ones.”

“Remember Hadley’s past troubles? Alita would need similar talents to bounce back from this.”

“And really, Alita’s behavior is appalling.”

Taking side gigs was already frowned upon.

Now caught with a producer, the scandal was too much.

Hadley, feeling unwell, had no patience for gossip. “Elissa, let's return to our room.”

“Sure.”

What would becof Alita?

Later that evening, as Hadley and Elissa headed out for dinner, they noticed Alita wheeling a suitcase out of her

room.

Could this be true?

As expected, Alita had been dismissed.

“Humph.” With a resentful glare, Alita confronted Hadley. “Are you happy now?”

Confused, Hadley responded, “Why would | be happy about your firing?”

With a sinister grin, Alita said, “Hadley, you're tougher than | thought. Not even a food poisoning could finish

you.”

Shocked by the hostility, Hadley couldn't believe what she was hearing. Were they not just competitors but

enemies too?

“You're despicable!” Elissa, outraged, suddenly pieced things together. “Did you tamper with Hadley’s drink last

night?”

Startled by the accusation, Hadley realized it might be true.

Both she and Elissa glared at Alita.

“Is that true?”

With a dismissive sneer, Alita retorted, “And what if | did? You can’t prove anything.”

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As she dragged her suitcase, she deliberately bumped into Hadley. “Get out of my way!”

“You”

Hadley nearly tripped over, but quick reflexes from Elissa prevented her fall

As Alita strutted off with a smirk of triumph, Elissa, boiling with anger, almost ran after her. “You can’t just walk

away like this!”

Hadley, holding her back, sighed. “Ignore her. She's just being spiteful. Anyway, she’s already lost her job

that’s her karma.”

Elissa, still fuming but calmed by Hadley’s words, watched Alita disappear. “You called it karma, I'd say it’s

almost like she’s being punished in your place.”