Chapter 5 Laughing at a Billionaire

Nevaeh's POV

Nevaeh sat cross-legged on her bed, surrounded by stacks of class syllabi and a half-empty cup of instant ramen. The evening sun cast long, warm shadows across her apartment, but she couldn't shake the unease lingering from the day. Meeting Aiden Klein-twice-had left her feeling both rattled and inexplicably intrigued.

She scrolled through her phone, trying to distract herself with memes and university group chat messages, but her mind kept wandering back to Aiden. Those intense amber eyes, the way his presence seemed to suck the air out of the room, and that half-smirk he'd given her before leaving the coffee shop...

"Ugh," she groaned, tossing her phone aside. Why did she care? It wasn't like she'd ever see him again. She was just an insignificant blip on his radar, a girl who'd embarrassed herself in front of him. Twice.

A sharp knock at the door jolted her out of her thoughts. Nevaeh's heart leapt into her throat. It was probably Sasha, ready for their promised "girls' night" in. But after the trauma of the previous night, she couldn't help the flicker of anxiety that came with any unexpected sound.

She tiptoed to the door and peered through the peephole. Relief washed over her when she saw Sasha standing there, a giant bag of snacks slung over her shoulder.

"Open up, roomie!" Sasha called, her voice muffled but cheerful. "I come bearing gifts-junk food and terrible rom-coms."

Nevaeh exhaled a laugh and unlocked the door. Sasha barged in, dumping the bag onto the kitchen counter and grinning. "I've got popcorn, chocolate, chips, and enough sugary drinks to fuel a small army. We are going to forget all about grumpy billionaires and creepy security guards tonight."

Nevaeh couldn't help but smile at Sasha's boundless energy. "I love this plan."

They settled in the living room, spreading out snacks and queuing up a series of cheesy romantic comedies on Nevaeh's laptop. The first movie was a classic, full of unrealistic meet-cutes and over-the-top love confessions. Nevaeh found herself laughing more than she had in days, the stress slowly melting away as Sasha provided a running commentary that made even the most absurd scenes hilarious.

Halfway through the second movie, Sasha paused the film and turned to Nevaeh, a mischievous gleam in her eye. "Okay, but seriously," she said, popping a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "What's the deal with you and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding?"

Nevaeh choked on her soda. "There's no deal! I just... ran into him. Twice. Pure coincidence."

Sasha raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Coincidence, huh? The universe doesn't do coincidence, babe. Especially not with men like Aiden Klein. Are you sure he's not secretly your billionaire soulmate?"

Nevaeh laughed, the sound so loud and sudden that it startled her. "Please! The only thing we have in common is our mutual dislike of each other. I laughed at him, Sasha. Twice."

Sasha's eyes widened with mock horror. "You laughed at Aiden Klein? Girl, you have a death wish! The man is basically royalty in this city. I'm surprised he didn't have you exiled or something."

Nevaeh shrugged, still giggling. "I couldn't help it. He was... I don't know, human for a moment. And kind of ridiculous. But he was also-" She stopped herself, realizing she was about to admit that she found him devastatingly attractive. "Never mind. It doesn't matter."

Sasha leaned in, her expression turning serious. "Hey, all jokes aside, just be careful, okay? Aiden Klein is powerful, and people like him have a way of complicating lives. I don't want you getting hurt."

Nevaeh's laughter faded, and she nodded. "I will. Promise."

But even as she made that promise, a part of her couldn't help wondering if Aiden Klein was already complicating her life in ways she didn't yet understand.

---

Aiden's POV

Aiden sat in his private office, the city lights twinkling like scattered stars beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. His desk was immaculate, a symbol of the order he demanded in his life, but his mind was anything but orderly tonight.

He'd reviewed a dozen contracts, signed off on several multimillion-dollar deals, and even fielded a call from his estranged father, but none of it could erase the nagging memory of Nevaeh Spencer's laugh. It had cut through his carefully constructed walls, piercing and bright, and he despised how it lingered.

"Get a grip," he muttered, scrubbing a hand over his face. He had faced down ruthless competitors, negotiated deals with world leaders, and survived the most public betrayal imaginable. A girl with wide blue eyes and a fearless laugh shouldn't have the power to haunt him.

Brad knocked on the office door, peeking in with an apprehensive expression. "Sir, there's an issue downstairs."

Aiden's jaw tightened. "What kind of issue?"

Brad cleared his throat. "A protest. Some group is picketing the building, demanding higher wages for our lower-level employees. They've gathered quite a crowd, and the media is starting to take notice."

Aiden sighed, already feeling the weight of another headache settling in. "Have security handle it. If they need more, call the police."

Brad hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. "It might be worth addressing personally, sir. The optics... aren't great."

Aiden's irritation flared, but he forced himself to stay calm. He didn't need a PR disaster on top of everything else. "Fine. I'll deal with it." He rose from his chair, grabbing his suit jacket. "Have someone prepare a statement."

As he made his way down to the lobby, his mind drifted back to Nevaeh. The way she had stood her ground in the coffee shop, her laugh fearless and genuine, even in his presence. He couldn't afford distractions, but she was becoming one, whether he liked it or not.

---

The scene outside the Klein Tower was a mess of flashing cameras, raised signs, and angry chants. Aiden stepped into the chaos, his expression as cold and composed as ever. Reporters swarmed him, shoving microphones in his face, but he ignored them, focusing instead on the group of protestors.

Their leader, a wiry man with a megaphone, glared at Aiden. "You can't ignore us forever, Klein! Your employees deserve better!"

Aiden's jaw clenched. He was used to being the villain, the cold-hearted billionaire who people loved to hate. But this time, something felt off. He caught a glimpse of one protester in particular: a young woman holding a sign that read, *Everyone Deserves to Be Heard*. Her face was hidden beneath a hoodie, but something about her posture-stiff, defiant-struck him.

He stepped forward, ignoring Brad's whispered warnings, and addressed the crowd. "I understand your frustrations," he began, his voice carrying over the noise. "And I assure you, I am committed to-"

Before he could finish, someone threw a rotten tomato. It splattered against the pavement, just inches from his polished shoes. The crowd gasped, and Aiden's guards tensed, ready to intervene.

But Aiden held up a hand, his eyes narrowing. He scanned the crowd, trying to find the culprit, but what he found instead shocked him. The woman with the 'Everyone Deserves to Be Heard` sign had dropped her hood, and there she was: Nevaeh Spencer, looking equal parts horrified and defiant.

Their eyes met, and time seemed to stop. The chaos around them faded, and Aiden was left staring at the last person he'd expected to see. What the hell was she doing here?

Nevaeh's mouth opened as if to say something, but the moment was shattered by the police arriving, sirens blaring and lights flashing. The crowd began to disperse, the protest breaking apart, but Aiden couldn't take his eyes off her.

Nevaeh turned and ran, disappearing into the crowd. And Aiden, for the first time in years, felt an unfamiliar tug in his chest-something dangerously close to curiosity and, perhaps, something even more troubling.