The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 149

Shap 74 Cawelcome Meriones-2

Chapter 74: Unwelcome Memories-2

Damien’s voice cut clean through the air-low, smooth, but sharp enough to draw blood.

“Whatever Maya once imagined, I’ll make reality look better.”

He stepped forward without hesitation, his presence shifting the entire energy in the room. With practiced ease, he slid his hand to the small of Maya’s back, a possessive gesture that said she was already claimed.

“If she wants lavender and tulips,” he murmured, gaze locked on hers,

“I’ll plant her a kingdom of them.”

Ethan’s smile faltered, but before he could respond, Ashcroft’s voice followed-cool, amused, and laced with a warning.

“Careful, Miller.” He leaned just slightly forward, his grin lazy but his eyes razor sharp.

“Fantasies tend to end badly.”

Maya’s breath caught-not because of Ethan anymore, but because of Damien’s quiet promise. It wasn’t performative. It wasn’t for show.

It was personal. It was deliberate. It was him, claiming her-without fanfare, without fear.

Lunch resumed like nothing had happened, the staff bustling in with plated servings and refilled glasses. But everyone at the table felt it-that subtle shift. Like gravity had quietly realigned.

Maya sat between Damien and Harper, with Ethan across the table-far enough to pretend distance, close enough to still matter.

Light conversations returned. Harper teased Jessa about her Pinterest board. Trina reviewed the schedule with practiced ease. But the ease was a mask.

Beneath the clinking of cutlery and polite laughter, the game had begun.

And every seat at this table… was part of it now.

The peaceful atmosphere of lunch was interrupted when Ethan once again opened his

outh.

y, May… by the way,” Ethan said casually, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

“How’s Jamie doing?”

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Chara

Dyer Te Become Meaime95-E

The fork in Maya’s hand paused just short of her lips.

Her eyes flicked up, startled. The mention of her brother-Jamie-landed like a pebble in still water, sending ripples through her chest.

His name carried weight. He was her weakness.

And hearing it spoken aloud in Ethan’s voice… brought with it a tide she wasn’t ready for.

She hadn’t expected him to remember.

Not Jamie. Not after all this time.

She blinked, caught off guard. A quiet breath escaped her lips as she composed herself. Then she looked at him, offering a small, gentle smile.

“He’s doing well… thank you for asking.”

Damien’s jaw ticked.

The scene unfolding in front of him didn’t sit well. Not one bit.

The way Ethan said “May”-so casual, too familiar. It grated. No one called her that. No one should-except the boy Damien had already come to respect. Jamie was the only one who earned that kind of closeness.

Damien hadn’t even dared.

And yet Ethan tossed it out like a shared secret, like he knew exactly how to tug the strings that led to Maya’s heart.

What made it worse was Maya’s response-calm, polite, soft. Too soft. As if Ethan knew where her vulnerabilities lived. As if he’d been there once.

Damien’s fingers curled slightly around his glass. Then his voice cut in-low, cold, and smooth as glass,

“So, Mr. Miller,” he said, eyes locked on Ethan,

“I take it you’ve met Maya’s brother too?”

Maya felt the weight of his voice, heavy and unmistakable. The tension around them had shifted. It didn’t just linger now-it loomed, stretching tight above them like a dark cloud

to crack.

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