Page 96 of The Billionaire Mismatch

And with that, I am done for the day. I don’t often give myself permission to take an afternoon away from the office. And even when I do, I don’t typically turn my brain off. But today I really do feel good. I want to celebrate.

As I make my way out of the building, I text Olivia.

Luca: Dinner tonight?

Olivia: What did you have in mind?

Luca: My place.

Olivia: You can cook?

Luca: You’re not cute.

Olivia: Yes, I am.

I chuckle. Because she is right.

Luca: I hope you like fettuccine…

Olivia responds by hearting the text bubble. I’m about to say something in response, something about how she uses a lot of emojis for someone who claims to hate the tech world, but before I can, I hear my name.

“Luca.”

I look up and stop. My entire body tenses.

“Sadie,” I say. “What are you doing here?”

We aren’t in the building. But we are right out front. Which means she is technically here as far as property lines go, and I can’t imagine why.

“I’m meeting a friend for lunch,” she says, and I arch a skeptical eyebrow in response.

“A friend?”

“Yes,” she smiles, crossing her arms. “I do still have friends here. Even if I don’t work here anymore.”

I guess that makes sense.

“Alright well, I guess I’ll let you get to it,” I say, moving to step around her. But she reaches out, placing a hand on my forearm to stop me.

“Actually, since I ran into you, maybe we can talk,” she says, and everything about her tone is a red flag.

“About?” I ask, my tone intentionally dry and direct.

“The app is doing well,” she says, removing her hand from my arm to pat down her pencil skirt.

“It is,” I agree.

“You seem…different,” she says.

“How so?” I ask. Not that I care. I don’t want to have this conversation at all. But honestly, I don’t remember Sadie having a lot of friends when she worked for me. Off-hand I don’t know anyone who would go to lunch with her, other than Peyton maybe. But they didn’t work here at the same time.

No. She’s up to something. And considering she is friends with Olivia, I should probably figure out the motive. Even if her and Olivia are on the outs. Especially if they are on the outs.

“I don’t know. You’re less…grumpy,” she says with a small smirk.

“Like you said, the app is doing well. I have no reason to be upset,” I tell her casually.

Sadie thinks about that for a moment, still smirking in a way I don’t trust.