The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 476

Cruz-wearing Ashcroft’s identity-glanced subtly toward the real Ashcroft for confirmation.

A silent check passed between them.

Do we know her?

But the real Ashcroft didn’t react with recognition either.

Only a faint shift in his expression.

Confusion.

Then, almost imperceptibly, a small shake of his head.

No.

He didn’t know her.

Cruz registered it instantly.

His attention returned to the woman.

He tilted his head slightly, studying her again-calm, measured, deliberate-but still nothing clicked.

“..Do I know you?” he asked at last.

Her expression faltered for a brief second.

Not dramatic-

Just a small shift around her eyes. The kind that came from embarrassment after realizing she remembered someone far more clearly than they remembered her.

A faint awkwardness crept into her posture, but she forced herself to speak anyway.

“Oh… you probably don’t remember,” she said quietly, trying to steady her voice. “But we’ve met before.”

Her fingers tightened lightly against her sleeve before she continued.

“At the Velvet Room… I work there part-time.”

A brief pause.

The moment the name left her mouth, something flickered across the real Ashcroft’s face behind the disguise.

Recognition.

Not of her specifically-

That part barely surprised him anymore.

It was the timing.

Of all places.

Of all moments.

A faint headache started forming behind his eyes as he resisted the urge to drag a hand down his face.

Because judging from the subtle shifts in expression around him—

She had just become dangerous.

One wrong reaction.

One careless word.

And the entire operation could crack wide open right there in the middle of the R&D floor.