“Could You Dance With Me? My Ex Is Watching,” She Asked—Unaware He Was Her Billionaire Boss
“Sarah,” Marcus had said when he cornered her near the entrance twenty minutes earlier, his smile as polished and fake as ever.
“I heard you’re still working those endless office hours.”
Sarah forced herself to stay calm.
“Good to see you too, Marcus.”
His eyes drifted over her dress.
Not admiring.
Evaluating.
Judging.
The way he always had.
“You know,” he continued, swirling the drink in his hand, “Emily and I just bought a lake house.”
Sarah nodded.
“Congratulations.”
“She’s doing very well.”
“That’s great.”
Marcus frowned slightly.
He wasn’t getting the reaction he wanted.
Because the truth was simple.
He hadn’t approached her to talk.
He had approached her to win.
To prove he had upgraded his life while she was supposedly stuck.
To remind her that he had left.
And that she had stayed behind.
When she finally escaped the conversation and moved deeper into the ballroom, she could still feel his eyes following her.
That was when she saw him.
A tall man standing alone near one of the marble columns.
Dark suit.
Confident posture.
Calm expression.
Unlike everyone else at the gala, he didn’t seem interested in impressing anyone.
He simply observed.
Quietly.
Thoughtfully.
And for some reason, he looked familiar.
Very familiar.
Sarah glanced back.
Marcus was still watching.
Still smirking.
Still convinced he controlled the story.
A reckless idea entered her mind.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she walked toward the stranger.
The man looked surprised when she stopped in front of him.
“Hi.”
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
“Hello.”
Sarah took a deep breath.
This was probably insane.
“Can I ask you something ridiculous?”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Those are usually the most interesting questions.”
She pointed subtly toward Marcus.
“My ex is watching.”
The man followed her gaze.
“Ah.”
“And I would really appreciate it if you danced with me for one song.”
His smile grew.
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know.”
“You realize this sounds like the beginning of a bad movie.”
Sarah laughed despite herself.
“For one song.”
The stranger looked at her for several seconds.
Then offered his hand.
“One song.”
Relief flooded through her.
“Thank you.”
As they stepped onto the dance floor, Marcus’s expression immediately changed.
His confidence vanished.
Confusion replaced it.
Because the man Sarah was dancing with wasn’t just attractive.
He carried himself differently.
Like someone used to being listened to.
The orchestra shifted into a slower melody.
The stranger guided her effortlessly.
“You seem nervous,” he said.
“I am.”
“Because of your ex?”
“Partly.”
“What’s the other part?”
Sarah smiled.
“I’m dancing with a complete stranger.”
He laughed.
“Fair point.”
For the first time that evening, she relaxed.
The conversation felt easy.
Natural.
Unexpectedly comforting.
Then something strange happened.
People started noticing them.
Important people.
Executives.
Investors.
Board members.
One by one, they began greeting the man.
Respectfully.
Very respectfully.
Several even interrupted conversations to shake his hand.
Sarah frowned.
“Do you know everyone here?”
His smile turned mysterious.
“Something like that.”
A woman passed by and stopped suddenly.
“Good evening, Mr. Knight.”
Sarah blinked.
The stranger nodded politely.
“Good evening.”
The woman hurried away.
Sarah looked up.
“Mr. Knight?”
The music continued.
The stranger sighed softly.
“I suppose I should introduce myself properly.”
Something in his tone made her stomach flip.
“My name is Daniel Knight.”
The name sounded familiar.
Dangerously familiar.
Then it hit her.
Knight Technologies.
Knight Holdings.
Knight Global Ventures.
The billionaire whose face appeared regularly on business magazines.
The owner of the company where she worked.
The company where she had worked for almost three years.
Sarah stopped dancing.
Her eyes widened.
“No.”
Daniel smiled.
“Yes.”
“No, no, no.”
“I’m afraid so.”
She nearly choked.
“You’re my boss.”
“Technically.”
“Oh my God.”
Across the room, Marcus had gone completely pale.
Because he had finally recognized Daniel too.
And unlike Sarah, Marcus understood exactly how powerful the man was.
Daniel noticed.
“Your ex doesn’t seem very happy.”
Sarah glanced toward Marcus.
The smug smile was gone.
Completely gone.
“What is happening?”
Daniel chuckled.
“You asked me for one dance.”
“And?”
“And now everyone in this room thinks we’re together.”
Sarah nearly fainted.
“You’re joking.”
“Not even a little.”
As if to prove his point, a reporter suddenly raised a camera.
Flash.
Another flash.
Then another.
Sarah’s heart nearly stopped.
“This can’t be real.”
Daniel’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Oh, it gets better.”
“Better?”
Before he could answer, Marcus started walking toward them.
Fast.
Determined.
And judging by the look on his face…
He was about to make the biggest mistake of his life.
