Under His Billionaire Roof novel Chapter 19

The doorbell rang at eleven on Saturday morning.

Leighton was in the kitchen making coffee. Noah was in his office. Chloe had left early for a yoga class.

She ignored the bell. Not her house. Not her problem.

It rang again. Longer this time. Insistent.

She sighed and walked to the door. Checked the security screen.

A woman stood on the porch. Tall. Impossibly tall. Long blonde hair that caught the sunlight like spun gold. Designer sunglasses. A dress that probably cost more than Leighton's entire wardrobe.

She looked familiar. Like someone from a magazine. Or a movie.

Leighton opened the door. "Can I help you?"

The woman lowered her sunglasses. Her eyes were green. Cat-like. They swept over Leighton in one quick, dismissive glance.

"I'm here to see Noah." Her voice was smooth. Cultured. The kind of voice that belonged to someone who'd never been told no.

"He's working. Can I take a message?"

"I'll wait." She pushed past Leighton into the house. Her perfume filled the entryway. Expensive. Floral. Overwhelming.

"Um. You can't just..."

"Tell him Vanessa's here." The woman walked toward the living room like she owned the place. Settled onto the couch with practiced grace. Crossed her long legs.

Leighton stood frozen in the doorway. Vanessa. The name pinged something in her memory.

Then it clicked.

Vanessa Moreau. Supermodel. Noah's ex. The one from all the tabloid photos. The one he'd been photographed with at clubs and galas and yacht parties.

Perfect. Just perfect.

"I'll let him know you're here." Leighton headed for Noah's office. Knocked once.

"What?" His voice was sharp through the door.

"You have a visitor."

"Tell them I'm busy."

"I think you'll want to see this one."

Silence. Then the door opened. He looked tired. Dark circles under his eyes. Hair disheveled like he'd been running his hands through it.

Their eyes met for a second. The first time in four days.

She looked away first. "Vanessa's here."

His expression went blank. "What?"

"Vanessa Moreau. She's in your living room."

"Fuck." He rubbed his face. "Did she say what she wants?"

"To see you, apparently."

"Tell her I'll be there in a minute."

"Tell her yourself. I'm not your secretary."

She walked away before he could respond. Back to the kitchen. She should go upstairs. Should leave them alone.

But curiosity kept her feet planted. And maybe something else. Something masochistic that wanted to see them together. Wanted to confirm what she already knew.

That she'd never fit into his world.

She heard his footsteps. Heard him enter the living room.

"Vanessa." His voice was flat. "What are you doing here?"

"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" The woman's voice was light. Teasing.

"We're not friends."

"No? I thought we parted on good terms."

"We didn't part. You got bored and moved on to a basketball player."

"Football player. And that didn't work out." The sound of fabric shifting. She was probably recrossing those mile-long legs. "I heard you've changed. Quit the party scene. Started seeing a therapist. Very mature of you."

"What do you want, Vanessa?"

"Can't a girl visit an ex without an ulterior motive?"

"You never do anything without an ulterior motive."

She laughed. It sounded like champagne bubbles. "You know me so well. Fine. I'll be direct. I want you back."

Leighton's hand tightened on her coffee mug.

"That's not happening." Noah's voice was firm.

"Why not? We were good together."

"No, we weren't. We were convenient. There's a difference."

"Convenient can be good. No expectations. No messy feelings. Just fun."

"I'm not interested in fun anymore."

"Really? Because the Noah I knew lived for fun."

"That Noah doesn't exist anymore."

"Pity. I liked that Noah."

"Most people did. Turns out he was an ass."

Another laugh. "So you've grown a conscience. How boring."

Leighton moved to the doorway. She couldn't help it. Needed to see.

Vanessa sat on the couch like a queen on a throne. Everything about her screamed wealth and breeding and effortless beauty. Her skin was flawless. Her makeup perfect. Her dress hugged curves that belonged on a runway.

She was everything Leighton wasn't.

Noah stood by the fireplace. Arms crossed. His face carved from stone.

"I mean it, Vanessa. This isn't happening."

"Is there someone else?" Vanessa's eyes sharpened. "Is that why you're turning me down?"

"That's none of your business."

He opened his mouth. Closed it. No answer.

"That's what I thought." She turned to leave.

"You're someone I care about." His voice stopped her. "Someone I hurt. Someone I can't stop thinking about even though I know I should."

She looked back at him. "But not someone you'll fight for."

"Leighton..."

"She's right about one thing. Men like you don't stay interested in girls like me. You proved that already." She headed for the stairs. "Thanks for the reminder."

"Where are you going?"

"My interview. Remember? The one for the job that has nothing to do with you."

She took the stairs two at a time. Heard him call her name. Ignored it.

In her room, she grabbed her bag. Changed into her interview outfit. A simple black dress. Nothing like Vanessa's designer label. But it was professional. Clean.

Good enough.

She checked her reflection. Pale. Tired. But presentable.

She could do this. Could walk into that interview and prove she was more than just the girl who'd been stupid enough to sleep with Noah Knight.

More than just girl-next-door. Wholesome. Not his type.

Her phone buzzed. A text from Noah.

*Don't let her get in your head. She doesn't know anything.*

She deleted it without responding.

Another buzz.

*Good luck with your interview.*

She stared at that one longer. Then put her phone in her bag and headed downstairs.

Noah was in the hallway. Waiting.

"Leighton..."

"I need to go. I'll be late."

"Let me drive you."

"No."

"Please. Let me do something."

She looked at him. Really looked. He did look tired. Worn. Like he hadn't slept in days.

Good. He should feel tired. Should feel worn. Should feel a fraction of what she'd been feeling.

"You want to do something?" she said quietly. "Figure out what you actually want. Because this? This back and forth? It's killing me."

Then she walked past him. Out the door. Into the bright morning sun.

Away from Noah Knight and his perfect ex-girlfriend and the reminder that she'd never be enough.