After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 75

**Clocks Lie To Hearts by Asa River Flint**
**Chapter 75**

The soft whir of the car window rolled down, and Louisa found herself staring into Teddy’s friendly face, illuminated by the afternoon sun.

“Ms. Forbes, are you waiting for a ride?” he inquired, his tone warm and inviting, as if he were genuinely concerned for her well-being.

Louisa nodded, her heart sinking a little. “Yes, my car is in for maintenance,” she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment.

“Why not come with us, then? We can drop you off,” Teddy suggested without a moment’s hesitation, his eagerness apparent.

Louisa hesitated, her gaze drifting to the back seat where Julian sat, a figure of elegance in his tailored black suit, his fingers dancing over the keys of his laptop. Even from a distance, she could feel the chill that seemed to radiate from him, a stark contrast to Teddy’s warmth.

In this moment, climbing into the car felt decidedly inappropriate. “That’s alright, I’ll just take a taxi,” she told Teddy, trying to maintain her composure.

Just as Teddy opened his mouth to respond, a deep, commanding voice interrupted from within the vehicle. “Get in.”

It was Julian. Louisa had thought he hadn’t even noticed her presence, but now that he had spoken, the prospect of refusing felt ungrateful, especially with the clock ticking away.

She nodded to Teddy, a reluctant smile forming. “Thank you, then.” With a deep breath, she opened the rear door and slid into the back seat, turning to Julian. “Thank you, Mr. Tudor.”

He didn’t respond, his focus still glued to his laptop. Louisa couldn’t quite decipher whether he hadn’t heard her or simply chose to ignore her gratitude.

She chose not to dwell on it—after all, it was just a ride.

Leaning against the cool glass of the window, she pulled out her phone, her friends’ group chat buzzing with activity. Sadie was in the thick of it, venting her frustrations about her impending divorce from George.

George wasn’t cooperating, and Sadie had been left waiting in the lobby of the Capulet Group, claiming he was “busy.” The thought of her friend’s predicament tugged at Louisa’s heartstrings. Sadie had been waiting for over half an hour, and now she was pouring her feelings out to Flora.

Louisa felt a pang of guilt for her own troubles overshadowing Sadie’s. She hovered her fingers over the keyboard, wanting to offer support but unsure of what to say. Unbeknownst to her, Julian’s gaze had shifted to her, observing her intently.

She was careful to maintain a respectful distance, almost three feet away, a stark contrast to the intimacy of their earlier encounter when she had burrowed into his arms, clinging to him like a lifeline. Was he merely a warm body for her to cuddle against?

In the front seat, Teddy caught a glimpse of his boss’s expression in the rearview mirror, and a jolt of surprise coursed through him. Was that a hint of wistfulness he detected? How could that be? What had transpired during the days Julian had been away?

Bob, the driver, caught Teddy’s eye and nodded, urging him to break the silence. Teddy hesitated, knowing that speaking without his boss’s permission could lead to trouble.

Yet, if the two in the back remained silent, Julian might grow displeased, and Teddy, as his personal assistant, would undoubtedly bear the consequences. After a moment of deliberation, he decided to heed Bob’s suggestion.

Turning slightly, he addressed Louisa with genuine curiosity. “Ms. Forbes, aren’t you nervous about your first day?”

“Nervous about what?” Louisa shot back, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Teddy felt a twinge of embarrassment; his attempt at light conversation had been abruptly shut down. Julian, however, returned to his laptop, offering a brief comment. “Teddy, you’re overthinking it.”

Louisa fell silent, realization dawning on her. The Tudor Group’s influence was far-reaching; her perspective had been far too narrow.

Before long, they bypassed the traffic and turned onto the restricted road, the world outside bustling with activity.

The project manager, spotting Julian’s license plate, didn’t even approach to stop them. Instead, he waved them through with a gesture of respect, as if Julian’s mere presence was a pass.

Louisa watched in awe, her mind racing. It seemed that Julian’s identity alone granted him access everywhere—she needn’t have worried about being late at all.

However, the road itself was anything but smooth. Despite the car’s impressive suspension, bumps jostled them around.

During one particularly rough patch, Louisa didn’t have time to grab the handle before her body lurched forward. Just as she braced for the impact against the seat in front of her, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, steadying her.

Before she could fully comprehend the situation, she found herself pressed against a solid chest. The warmth of him enveloped her, and the familiar, refreshing scent that she had come to associate with him filled her senses. For a fleeting moment, time seemed to freeze.

She looked up, her gaze locking with his as he looked down at her. His cool eyes traced the outline of her slightly smudged red lips, and his expression shifted to something more intense.

Under the weight of his gaze, Louisa felt heat creep up her cheeks.

“Thank you, Mr. Tudor,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Instinctively, she tried to pull away, but in that instant, she noticed a red mark on his Adam’s apple—her lipstick.

In that moment, her mind exploded with thoughts and emotions, swirling around like a tempest.