“Send the Poor, Ugly Girl—He’ll Reject Her!” They Laughed… Until the Millionaire Stood Up
Chapter 2
Claire wanted to refuse.
Instead, she walked beside Adrian into the dining room.
The laughter disappeared instantly.
Vanessa’s smile froze.
Adrian pulled out a chair.
“For Claire.”
Claire sat.
He took the seat beside her.
Not across from her.
Beside her.
Vanessa frowned.
“I thought you were supposed to choose from the women we introduced.”
Adrian looked at her.
“I am.”
He turned toward Claire.
“She was never introduced.”
Claire could feel everyone’s eyes on her.
Adrian studied her plate.
“You haven’t eaten.”
“I wasn’t invited for dinner.”
“That wasn’t what I asked.”
Claire looked at him.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t like eating when people are waiting to see if I’ll embarrass myself.”
Adrian’s expression changed slightly.
“Fair.”
He signaled a waiter.
“Bring her something she actually likes.”
The waiter hesitated.
Adrian looked at Claire.
“What do you like?”
She blinked.
“No one has ever asked me that tonight.”
“What do you like?”
“Pasta.”
“Any kind.”
“Spicy tomato sauce.”
Adrian nodded.
“Bring that.”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“You don’t have to make her comfortable.”
Adrian looked at her.
“I know.”
The dinner continued.
But Adrian barely paid attention to anyone else.
He asked Claire about her work.
Her mother.
The repair shop.
The old apartment where she lived.
Claire answered cautiously.
She expected pity.
He never gave it.
Instead, he asked practical questions.
“How many patients does your mother need every month?”
“Three physical therapy sessions.”
“Expensive?”
“Yes.”
“Do you pay yourself?”
“Yes.”
“How much debt remains from the shop?”
Claire stared at him.
“Why are you asking?”
“Because you answered honestly.”
She didn’t know what that meant.
After dinner, Adrian stood.
“Come with me.”
Vanessa immediately interrupted.
“Where?”
Adrian didn’t even look at her.
“Outside.”
Claire followed him to the garden.
The mansion lights reflected across the pool.
She folded her arms.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Pretending you’re interested.”
“I am interested.”
“At what?”
“You.”
She almost laughed.
“You don’t know me.”
“Not yet.”
He stepped closer.
“You know what I heard before I came in?”
Claire didn’t answer.
“That you were poor.”
She nodded.
“That you were unattractive.”
Her face tightened.
“That you would be grateful for any attention.”
She looked away.
“And that you were the safest woman to send because you had nothing to lose.”
Claire’s throat tightened.
Adrian’s voice softened.
“I hated that.”
“Why?”
“Because they were describing you like a transaction.”
She looked at him.
“And?”
“And you’re not one.”
The garden became quiet.
Claire shook her head.
“Then why agree to meet me?”
Adrian looked toward the house.
“My grandmother once told me something.”
“What?”
“The best person in a room is usually the one nobody bothers to notice.”
Claire smiled faintly.
“That’s a strange thing for a millionaire to believe.”
“That’s because I wasn’t always a millionaire.”
She looked at him.
He continued.
“My father left me debt.”
“Debt?”
“Millions.”
“And you paid it?”
“Eventually.”
“How?”
“I worked.”
He looked back at her.
“So did you.”
Claire’s heart skipped.
Then Adrian said:
“I want to take you home.”
She stepped back.
“No.”
His expression didn’t change.
“As a date.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to tonight.”
He reached into his pocket.
No expensive gift.
No diamond.
Just a business card.
On the back was a handwritten address.
“Tomorrow.”
Claire looked at it.
“Why?”
Adrian smiled for the first time.
“Because I want to know what you’re like when nobody is laughing at you.”
