Under His Billionaire Roof novel Chapter 20

The interview went well. Better than well.

Mark Chen from Catalyst Creative was warm and enthusiastic. He loved her portfolio. Asked smart questions. Talked about their company culture like it was somewhere she'd actually want to work.

"We'll be in touch by Wednesday," he said as she left. "But between you and me? I think you're exactly what we need."

She floated back to the mansion on a high. For the first time in days, something felt right.

Then she opened the front door and heard Vanessa's laugh.

The high evaporated.

She followed the sound to the dining room. Vanessa sat at the table like she belonged there. Noah was pouring wine into two glasses.

"Oh good, you're back." Chloe appeared from the kitchen carrying plates. "Perfect timing. We're having an impromptu dinner party."

"We are?"

"Vanessa insisted on staying. Something about catching up with old friends." Chloe's tone suggested she didn't believe that for a second. "You should join us."

"I'm not really hungry."

"Come on. It'll be fun." Chloe lowered her voice. "Plus I need backup. She's been talking about herself for twenty minutes straight."

Leighton glanced at the dining room. Noah caught her eye. Something passed between them. A question, maybe. Or a plea.

"Fine," she said. "Let me change first."

"Don't bother. You look great."

Leighton looked down at her interview outfit. The simple black dress. Nothing compared to whatever designer label Vanessa was wearing.

But Chloe was already pulling her toward the table.

"Everyone, Leighton's joining us." Chloe pushed her into a chair. Across from Noah. Next to Vanessa.

Perfect.

"How lovely." Vanessa's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Noah was just telling me about his latest business ventures. So fascinating."

"I'm sure," Leighton said.

Noah poured wine into a third glass. Slid it across to her. Their fingers brushed. She pulled back like she'd been burned.

"So Leighton." Vanessa turned to her. "What do you do? Besides live here, I mean."

"I'm a graphic designer."

"How quaint. Do you do logos? Little business cards?"

"Branding, mostly. Full identity systems."

"I see. And you're employed where?"

"I'm between positions at the moment."

"Ah. So unemployed."

Chloe's fork stopped halfway to her mouth. "Vanessa."

"What? I'm just making conversation." Vanessa took a sip of wine. "Nothing wrong with being between jobs. It happens to everyone."

"Not to you though, right?" Leighton kept her voice pleasant. Sweet. "Must be nice having your face as your career. No real skills required."

Chloe choked on her wine.

Vanessa's smile went sharp. "Modeling is harder than people think."

"I'm sure. Standing there looking pretty must be exhausting."

"It requires discipline. Dedication. Not that you'd understand."

"You're right. I don't understand jobs where the main qualification is genetics and starvation."

Noah's lips twitched. Almost a smile.

Vanessa's eyes narrowed. "At least I have a job."

"For now. What happens when you age out? When the next twenty-year-old with good bone structure comes along?" Leighton leaned back in her chair. "Must keep you up at night. Knowing your entire worth is tied to something you can't control."

"Better than having no worth at all."

"Okay!" Chloe stood up. "Who wants salad?"

"I'll help." Noah stood too. Quick. Like he couldn't get away fast enough.

They disappeared into the kitchen.

Leaving Leighton alone with Vanessa.

The model's mask slipped. Her expression went cold. Calculating.

"You're screwing him." Not a question.

"Excuse me?"

"Noah. You're sleeping with him. That's why you're here."

"I'm here because I'm Chloe's best friend."

"Please. I saw the way you looked at him. The way he looked at you." Vanessa leaned closer. Her perfume was suffocating. "You think you're special? You think you're different from all the others?"

"I don't think anything."

"Good. Because you're not. You're just another girl who fell for Noah Knight. Another girl who thought she could change him. Fix him. Make him into something he's not."

"And what is he?"

"A player. A man who gets bored easily. Who moves on to the next shiny thing the second the novelty wears off." She sat back. Smiled. "I give it two more weeks. Then he'll be done with you. And you'll be just another name he doesn't remember."

Leighton's hands clenched under the table. "You sound bitter."

"I sound experienced."

"No. You sound like someone who can't accept that maybe you weren't as special as you thought."

Vanessa's perfect facade cracked. Just for a second. "Careful, sweetheart. You're playing a game you don't understand."

"I'm not playing anything."

"Then you're stupider than you look."

Noah and Chloe returned. Carrying salad and bread. The tension at the table was thick enough to cut.

"Everything okay here?" Chloe asked.

"Perfect." Vanessa's smile was back. Bright. Fake. "Leighton and I were just getting to know each other."

They ate. Vanessa dominated the conversation. Stories about photo shoots and fashion weeks and parties in cities Leighton had never been to.

But Noah wasn't listening. Leighton could feel his eyes on her. Every time she looked up, he was watching. His expression unreadable.

"Remember that party in Milan?" Vanessa touched Noah's arm. "The one on the yacht?"

"No."

"Of course you do. You got us kicked out for jumping in the harbor."

"I don't remember."

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