The Billionaire’s Regret -Alessa (by Bukolami) novel Chapter 75

**Shadows Beneath the Silent Moon**
**Rising Echoes by Aiden R. Vale**
**Chapter 75**

Bryan wandered over to Alessa’s bookshelf, his fingers gliding over the worn spines of the volumes, searching for something to catch his interest. Suddenly, one book seemed to shimmer in the dim light, and as he pulled it from the shelf, a flash of metal glinted back at him. His heart raced as he recognized it—a gun, hidden away behind the dusty tome. He hesitated, the weight of the weapon heavy in his hands, a chill running down his spine.

“Really? What if the kids walk in here?” he asked, concern etching lines on his forehead. Alessa, however, merely rolled her eyes, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

“They aren’t as nosy as you are,” she shot back, her tone teasing, yet laced with an undercurrent of challenge.

A soft chuckle escaped him, the tension momentarily easing as he returned the gun to its concealed spot, carefully placing the book back over it as if to hide a secret too heavy to bear.

“If you don’t have anything to say, then you can leave,” she stated, her voice firm, turning her gaze back to him with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat.

He stepped closer, closing the distance until they were mere inches apart, an electric charge crackling in the air between them. An inexplicable urge surged within him, a desire to provoke a reaction, to assert some semblance of authority.

But Alessa remained unmoved, her steadfast gaze locking onto his. In that moment, he was struck by a memory—a silly, almost trivial moment from their time in Vegas. Yet, curiosity compelled him to test the waters, to see if he could provoke her.

“Alessa,” he murmured, his voice low and husky, trying to draw her in.

“Bryan, what the hell…” she began, but he swiftly cut her off.

“Shut up,” he commanded, his tone sharper than he intended, the words hanging in the air like a challenge.

To his surprise, she complied, falling silent, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“Don’t talk to me that way. Do I need to remind you who I am?” he challenged, authority threading through his words like a taut wire.

In that instant, he noticed a flicker of confusion cross her features, her gaze faltering as if seeking an escape from the weight of his challenge.

Why did his words unsettle her now? She had handled orders effortlessly since her return, so what was different? A whirlwind of questions swirled in his mind, each one more perplexing than the last.

Slowly, he withdrew his hands from his pockets, wrapping an arm around her waist, feeling the warmth of her body against his. She appeared lost, her thoughts racing behind the mask of composure she wore.

Without warning, she broke free from his embrace and delivered a swift punch to his arm, catching him off guard. He winced, a groan of pain escaping his lips.

“Ouch, damn!” he exclaimed, rubbing the spot where her fist had landed. Her punches were no joke; how had she learned to hit like that?

“What the hell?” he muttered, his eyes meeting her fierce glare, a mix of admiration and surprise.

“You should leave since you don’t have anything to say,” she insisted, her voice steady, unyielding.

“Okay, okay,” he relented, raising his hands in mock surrender, a wry smile creeping onto his face.

“The city board has been trying to reach you. They’ve sent multiple emails, but you aren’t responding to any of them,” he informed her, attempting to keep the mood light despite the tension still lingering in the air.

“Huh?” Alessa responded, her brow furrowing in confusion. She genuinely had no clue what he was talking about.

“The city board,” Bryan reiterated, trying to clarify the situation.

“Okay, what did they do?” she pressed, still puzzled. He rolled his eyes, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

“You are hosting the third ball of the city in three days,” he stated flatly, the words hanging heavily between them.

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