The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1519

She pointed at Alaric, her words stumbling over each other.

"I was listening to your design pitch. What else could I possibly be doing?" Alaric snapped back to reality, a sly grin spreading across his face as he said.

"You should’ve acted like a good listener if you were listening to my pitch. Why were you leaning in so close? We almost kissed just now!" Hertha gasped, her voice a mix of alarm and fright.

"It was you who turned around suddenly. We almost kissed because of that. I know I'm quite the looker, and many women find me irresistible, but you didn't have to be so eager especially with all these eyes on us."

Alaric said with a roguish charm. His gaze swept over Ethan and Thalassa as if to say they were witnesses. It was Hertha who had leaned in and almost caused the kiss. He was entirely blameless.

Ethan, ever the loyal friend, chimed in, "Yeah, Ms. Kensington, it was you who turned around so suddenly. Anyone who didn't know better might think you were trying to make a move on my company's lead project manager."

Ethan's lips curved into a teasing smile as he took a sip of his water.

Feeling wronged, Hertha's eyes blinked rapidly as she defended herself, "I only turned around in surprise because I felt his breath on my ear."

"No need to explain. Explaining is just making excuses. Haven't you heard?" Alaric said with a laugh.

Hertha's face flushed with urgency.

Thalassa couldn't stand it any longer. She was fully aware that Alaric was the one who had initiated the flirtation. Yet, there he was, calm and collected, while Hertha was all over the place.

How could Thalassa let her good friend be at a disadvantage?

She smiled and said, "Mr. Falconer, you know full well that Hertha is taken, so you should be keeping your distance to avoid any misunderstandings. Was it necessary to lean in so close just to hear the plan? Hertha's voice is loud enough. We could hear her perfectly from across the table; there was no need to get that close to hear her."