Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't Afford Me by Thedora Birnir

Chapter 30 Bright Smile Following her electrifying jazz performance, Hadley quickly rose to fame.

Under Lennon's astute marketing stunts, she had becGalant's star attraction.

Guests were willing to pay big money just to see her. But Lennon understood the power of rarity and refused every offer.

He kept even Hadley's identity under wraps.

To the patrons, she was only known simply as Miss S, which only heightened the intrigue.

Tonight, the buzz was that Miss S would perform, drawing an unprecedented crowd to the nightclub. The evening's takings were through the roof, multiple times higher than normal.

"There she goes, on stage!" Everyone's attention shifted to the stage.

Abruptly, darkness enveloped the stage.

The murmurs halted as anticipation built, Then, a single spotlight illuminated, revealing Hadley in a flowing red outfit at center stage. As the music swelled, she moved gracefully, captivating everyone.

Hadley executed a graceful twirl and leapt up, casting a playful look at the audience.

Yet her identity remained concealed, her face obscured by a delicate veil, adding to her allure.

"Bravo!" "Amazing!" The crowd was initially taken aback by her tic entrance, but then burst into applause that swelled like an ocean wave.

Hadley's performance continued seamlessly.

Her movements were fluid, as if she were a breeze weaving through trees, mesmerizing and effortless.

Wires attached to her allowed her to move in sync with the melody, captivating everyone present.

"She's incredible!" Barrie exclaimed, visibly impressed.

"Absolutely." Marshall agreed. "This new dancer at Galant really stands out from the rest.” The performance itself was a feast for the eyes.

Eric watched, his expression a mix of admiration and slight unease, but he remained silent.

0.0% 19:17 ||| O Denver couldn't contain his enthusiasm. “She's obviously skilled. A real professional, unlike those amateurs we often see here." "Is that so?" Marshall chuckled, glancing at his cousin. "Sounds like someone has a bit of a crush." "L... I..." Denver fumbled for words, his face turning red.

"I just overheard sguests mentioning it. You all were too engrossed in your own conversations to notice." "Wow!" The crowd suddenly erupted in cheers.

Hadley ascended gracefully, ribbons encircling her as if she were an angel descending from the heavens.

"Where's she going?" "Who knows!" "Over here, please!" Many in the audience stretched out their hands, eager to graze the fabric of her celestial costume.

Yet, Hadley was floating directly towards the booth by the stage, where Eric and his group were seated.

Eric remained in his seat, intently watching as the dancer approached his location.

As Hadley neared, she caught sight of Eric.

A slight surprise registered in her, though she masked it quickly and stuck with the choreography. With a deft movement, she swept her long, flowy sleeve towards Eric.

Eric reflexively reached out to catch it.

However, Hadley swiftly withdrew her sleeve before his fingers could make contact.

All Eric grasped was the faint scent left behind in the air.

Behind her veil, Hadley was sure Eric wouldn't recognize her. She flashed a brief smile and twirled back towards the center of the stage.

"Wow! Who's the lucky guy?" "It's that booth over there!" "Which VIP got that attention?" "Why wasn't it me?" The crowd was abuzz with excitement, and then the stage lights suddenly went dark, and the music stopped.

When the lights flickered back on, S had disappeared from view.

Eric sat motionless, deep in thought.

To his friends, it appeared as though he had been hit by a bolt from the blue.

24.0% 19:17 ||| O < Chapter 30 Bright Smile "Hey!" Barrie jolted Eric's shoulder. "Cback to us, man!" Marshall laughed at the scene.

"It seems Eric's changing his ways. He's buying gifts for a mystery woman and now he's captivated by Galant's lead dancer. I'm really impressed, man." "Knock it off!" Eric retorted, his voice a blend of humor and annoyance.

Yet, he couldn't explain why his heart had skipped a beat when S flicked her sleeve toward him, or why he had instinctively held his breath.

And that peculiar feeling of familiarity with the dancer? It puzzled Eric.

That evening, Hadley performed just a single dance.

When the crowd shouted for more, Hadley felt a bit bashful.

Lennon dismissed the calls for an encore. "Look, Hadley, one performance per night is enough. Do you know how much revenue you generate in those few minutes? Remember that. With the Toasting Ceremony coming up, a slice of the betting pool will be yours. You've earned it." Hearing about her share of the earnings cheered Hadley up.

After all, money was her primary reason for dancing at the nightclub.

"Tto pack up and head home," Lennon instructed.

"Alright, Mr. Lewis." Exiting Lennon's office, Hadley headed towards the dressing room.

Along the way, a young man approached her in the staff hallway, leading her to asshe worked there.

With her veil already removed, she gave him a polite nod and a small smile.

"You..." The young man halted, his eyes fixed on Hadley as he swallowed nervously. "Are you Miss S?" Hadley, taken aback, questioned, "You don't work at Galant?" "It's me. Don't you remember?" Denver identified himself, pointing at his chest to jog her memory. "Last time, you dropped your key pouch. I was the one who found it and gave it back to you. Do you remember now?" Recognition dawned on Hadley. "Oh... Yes, that was you." While her memory wasn't perfect, she remembered recent events clearly.

"Why are you here in the staff area?" "I..." Denver looked a little uneasy as he scratched the back of his head. "I'm not too familiar with this area. I was actually looking for the restroom." "Right."

Hadley gave him directions. "Exit through that door, go straight, make a left and then ari a right. You'll find the 48.9% 19:17 ||| O < restroom there." "Thanks." Denver paused, seeming reluctant to leave.

"Wait a second," Hadley called out to him as he started to walk away.

Denver turned quickly, his face lighting up with a smile. "Yes?"

A smile crept onto Hadley's face as well. "Please keep this encounter yourself. It's part of our manager's promotional tactics that no one sees my face for now, okay?" "Understood," Denver replied, nodding with enthusiasm. "Your secret's safe with me." They shared a moment of complicity.

"I need to head out now. Bye." "Bye." Hadley smiled warmly once more.

Denver's smile remained etched in his memory, a comforting afterimage that persisted even after she had left.

As Denver departed, Eric entered the backstage area.

He approached Lennon directly. "I need to see S." Having witnessed her performance twice, Eric felt a persistent, unsettling familiarity. He was intent on discovering the source.

Lennon's heart raced with mixed emotions, knowing Hadley was the golden ticket. Even someone like Eric Flynn couldn't resist her allure.

With feigned regret, Lennon responded, "Mr. Flynn, I'm sorry, but she's already finished for the day and has left." She was already gone? Eric was skeptical. "You expectto believe that?" He saw through what he believed was a tactic to maintain her mystique and boost attendance.

"I need to see her right now!" Eric then made his way towards the dressing rooms.

Lennon grew anxious. "Mr. Flynn, please, I'm telling the truth..." Now what? If Eric encountered Hadley now, it could disrupt all of Lennon's carefully laid plans.

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