Page 9 of The Kiss that Captured a Billionaire (Heart & Soul #2)

Six

A celebratory hum filled the foyer, underscored by show tunes and the scent of champagne and fresh florals. The wrap party was bittersweet—part wake, part rebirth.

After nearly two years, the final curtain had fallen on Beauty and the Beast . The cast and upper echelon of the crew mingled in sequins and tuxedos beside the theatre’s directors and wealthy patrons.

Behind the scenes, the lesser cast and the crew toasted each other with bittersweet laughter and hopeful eyes as they eyed the wealthy patrons, hoping those in attendance could be wooed into funding more performances—and the theatre—as they struggled to keep their dreams alive for another year.

Rose balanced the tray of hors d’oeuvres in one hand, moving with practiced ease between the clusters of people, silently nodding greetings and offering smiles. She wore simple black slacks and a crisp button-down white shirt— standard server fare—but inside, her heart beat anything but standard.

A knot formed in her chest as she passed a massive golden candelabra—one of her grandfather’s creations—rising like a monument near the edge of the room. She was here to serve, not celebrate. Still, this stage had always been her home. And even in the background, she felt its heartbeat.

In three months, a new production would take the stage—if the patrons opened their wallets. Rose had already seen the rehearsal schedule and production notes for the upcoming production— Hamilton .

It was electric. Fast. Unapologetically fierce. A new beginning. She needed that right now.

Rose inhaled deeply through her nose, then exhaled slowly as she scanned the room.

He might be here.

No, he will be here, she thought with a sigh.

She’d overheard Mimi crowing about Theo’s arrival—and pretended not to hear, just as she’d pretended her hands hadn’t shaken for ten minutes after the stairwell encounter.

Pull it together, Rose. It was one kiss. His declaration on the stairwell meant nothing. He was just giving you a line. You are nothing but a game to him. You tweaked his nose. Men like him don’t like to lose.

Her heart twisted, because part of her wanted to believe him. But logic—that pesky survival instinct—warned her not to.

Rich men don’t chase backstage nobodies. Especially ones who run out on them. Twice.

She readjusted the tray, focusing on balance, angles, and crab cakes.

Halfway through the room, she felt the shift.

Like the air had suddenly been disturbed by a cosmic force.

She didn’t have to look. She felt him.

Theo Kallistratos had arrived.

Against her better judgment, her eyes lifted—and locked with his.

He stood at the entrance, breathtaking in black. Crisp open-collared shirt. Tailored blazer. The faintest curve to his lips, as if he already knew her pulse had doubled.

Damn him.

She dropped her gaze instantly, pivoting toward the opposite corner of the room. If she could just keep moving, maybe?—

“Oh, Theo!” Mimi gushed, throwing her arms open like a Broadway curtain.

Rose bit back a snort as she watched Mimi attach herself to Theo with all the grace of a star-struck octopus.

He smiled politely, nodding at whatever she was saying, but Rose saw it—the subtle tilt of his head, the restless flick of his gaze. He was scanning the crowd—for her.

A smug sense of exhilaration ran through her. She wasn’t going to make it easy.

Dodging him became her private mission. Each time their eyes met, she vanished.

Until—

“Excuse me,” came a warm, male voice.

Rose turned—and nearly collided with a man who looked vaguely familiar. Tall. Broad shoulders. Rugged jawline. A glint of mischief in his dark eyes.

“Do I know you?” She almost winced at the classic cliché.

He chuckled at the line. “I’m impressed. I would have thought you would have been too distracted to notice anyone other than Theo.”

“Yeah… and no,” she replied with a sense of unease. “What makes you think he distracts me?”

“Ouch… I can see why he’s so fascinated by you. You’re sharp, witty, unimpressed with his wealth—and beautiful. A true rarity.” He offered a mock bow, his eyes dancing with delight. “Nikos Aetos. At your service. We were never formally introduced.”

Her fingers tightened slightly on the tray. “Can I offer you an hors d’oeuvre, Mr. Aetos?”

He looked down at the tray, then back at her, the glint in his eyes sharpening. “Not tonight. I’m here to play interference—and stop you from escaping again.”

She blinked in surprise. “Excuse me?”

He leaned in conspiratorially. “I was sent to stall you—for Theo.”

Her mouth fell open, words colliding uselessly on her tongue.

He chuckled. “You’re fast for someone hauling crab cakes.”

Rose took a step back, glancing over her shoulder when she bumped into someone—and groaned.

Theo was standing right behind her.

His dark gaze locked on her, hunger and frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

“You sold me out,” she accused Nikos, glaring back at him.

He shrugged, unapologetic. “You aren’t easy to catch—and friends need to stick together.”

“Well, you might want to consider finding better friends.”

“Not a very subtle one, Theo,” Nikos chuckled, sipping his drink with a wink. “I like her.”

“I’m going to dump this entire tray on your fancy Italian shoes. Let’s see how you like me after you walk in crabmeat and cream cheese.”

“It would be worth it,” Nikos laughed.

“Toad,” Rose muttered.

“Are you two finished, Nikos? If so, thank you, I’ll take it from here.”

Nikos lifted his glass in salute. “Break a leg.” Then he sauntered off, leaving her alone with the man who haunted her sleep.

Rose’s breath caught, and she turned slowly to face Theo. Being this close to him was like standing near a flame—thrilling and terrifying.

She opened her mouth—nothing came out.

“Rose.” His voice was low—soft, reverent… dangerous.

She swallowed.

“You can’t keep avoiding me.”

“I’m working,” she replied stiffly.

He looked down at the tray, then gently took it from her hands and set it on a nearby table.

“That’s better,” he said.

Her hands felt empty, leaving her feeling awkward and unsure. Her pulse pounded in her throat as she stared up at him.

“This isn’t a fairy tale,” she whispered.

His eyes gleamed. “Then why does it feel like one?”

It felt like one to him. All he wanted to do was sweep her into his arms and walk out of the damn theatre.

Just… scoop her up, carry her down the marbled steps like the Beast escaping into his castle with his Beauty, and shut the rest of the world out behind them.

She was right—this wasn’t a fairytale.

But damn if he didn’t feel like the monster in one. And she… she was the one thing tethering him to something good. Something unique.

Instead, Theo inhaled deeply, steadying himself. His fingers flexed at his sides. Patience—once a virtue he prided himself on—was proving far more elusive when Rose was in the same room. She made it hard to think. Hard to breathe.

“I’d like to see you again,” he said softly.

She tilted her head, her dark lashes briefly brushing her cheeks before she studied him with those soul-deep eyes. “Why?”

One word—simple, innocent. But it sucker-punched him.

Why?

No one had ever asked him that before. Ever. They’d smiled, flirted, angled for more, but never once questioned why he wanted to see them.

His mouth opened—then closed again.

Rose arched a delicate eyebrow. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? It wasn’t a very difficult question, you know.”

A low chuckle slipped from her lips, warm and amused. But it wasn’t cruel. It was… delighted.

And that hit even harder.

He let out a quiet groan and rubbed the back of his neck. “God, this is bruising my ego. Even as a teenager, I didn’t have to work this hard.”

“Interesting—and disappointing if women fall that easily,” she mused, a frown creasing her brow.

“Or, perhaps you simply have a weakness for women who like strong, wealthy, handsome men that aren’t picky.

Honestly, there is so much to contemplate in that single admittance that it may take me a lifetime to analyze it,” she murmured, her voice a low hum, her smile barely there, but there was a wicked glimmer of amusement in them that made her eyes sparkle.

His cheeks flushed. His cheeks! He could feel the warmth rising from under his collar. He couldn’t remember the last time that had happened—or if it ever had.

“You’re enjoying this far too much,” he accused, not quite able to hide the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

She shrugged one delicate shoulder. “Maybe a little.” She paused. “So… are you asking me out? Like—on a date?”

He nodded, clearing his throat. “Yes. I want to see you again. Outside of all… this.” He gestured to the swirl of people and champagne. “You and me. Just us.”

She hesitated, as if weighing the idea of whether they should be alone together.

He held himself still while she studied him again. For the first time in a long, long time, he felt… seen. Not as a billionaire. Not as Theo Kallistratos, the name on boardroom doors, glossy magazine covers, or tabloid pages. Just a man, standing in front of a woman, hoping she’d say yes.

Rose’s lips quirked, slow and deliberate. “One date.”

Relief crashed through him like a wave.

“I want more than—” he started.

She shot him a pointed look and shook her head.

“One date—then we’ll see if there will be another,” she added.

“I’ll take it,” he said, exhaling a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Tomorrow morning—unless you want to?—”

She released a snort of laughter and shook her head again. He grinned at her swift, silent glare of admonishment.

It was worth trying.

“Tomorrow night,” she corrected, already stepping back. “I have a lot of work to do in the morning.”

He opened his mouth to ask what kind of work—but before he could, Mimi appeared in a cloud of designer perfume and sequins.

“Oh, Theo! There you are! Did you get a chance to meet my husband?” she beamed, tugging his arm with surprising strength for a woman pushing sixty.

He glanced back—just in time to see Rose disappearing into the crowd again, her tray back in hand, her ponytail swinging with each step.

Gone—like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight.

Only this time, she hadn’t left a glass slipper. She’d given a promise. One date.

As Mimi launched into a spirited monologue about her original casting of a character from her first production, Theo’s mind barely registered a word.

Because an idea had formed.

Something bold. Reckless, maybe. But that didn’t matter.

He wanted her.

Not just for a night. Not just for the chase.

All in.

If Rose thought one kiss—or one date—would satisfy him, she didn’t know how determined the Beast could be.

He was going to win her heart?—

And he wasn’t above using a bit of his money, power, and ruthlessness to get it.

He listened to Mimi Devan twaddle on before he turned to her. “Mrs. Devan—Mimi—I would like a tour of the theatre. I’m considering making a rather substantial donation.”

“Really? I—That would be lovely,” Mimi stammered, her eyes wide with excitement.

“Perhaps tomorrow morning?” he asked.

“Tomorrow morning—of course. Tomorrow would be absolutely doable,” Mimi preened, smiling brightly back at him.

“Wonderful. Will Rose be available as well?”

Mimi frowned, glancing around the room before her eyes landed on Rose, smiling and offering refreshments. His gaze had been locked on Rose the entire time.

“I—well, I suppose so. She does maintenance for the theatre,” Mimi replied.

“Good. Then she will know everything there is to know about it,” he said, pleased. “I didn’t catch Rose’s last name.”

“It’s Smythe—Rose Smythe,” Mimi’s husband answered.

“Smith?” His eyes widened with surprise.

“Yes. No relation to Bob and Beverly, Joan and Clint, or Harold and Sue,” Claude Devan answered with amusement, nodding at a half-dozen other patrons in the crowd.

Theo grimaced, acknowledging how common the name was. Still, it was enough to remind him that he still had his promise to locate Lorenzo’s granddaughter hanging over his head. Maybe he should turn the search over to Nikos and his brother.

“Darling, the mayor is about to leave, and I think it would be nice if you said your goodbyes, as he is having a meeting about the Arts funding next week,” Claude murmured.

“Oh, yes. Tomorrow, Mr. Kallistratos. Say, ten—ten-thirty?” Mimi asked, already turning as her husband cupped her elbow.

“I’ll see you at ten.”

He lifted the glass of whiskey to his lips, his eyes following Rose as she exchanged trays with another server, laughing at whatever the man said, before she turned away. Their eyes met again across the room.

Fire burned through him when he noticed the hint of pink in her face and the way she shielded the look in her eyes by lowering her eyelashes. She wasn’t flirting with him—she was trying to build a wall.

“You’re about to set the fire alarms off,” Nikos commented, coming to stand next to him.

“Shut up.”

Nikos snickered and sipped his drink. “I like her.”

Jealousy reared its ugly head and exploded through him like a fuse to a powder keg. He turned a sharp gaze to his friend. Nikos shook his head in amusement.

“I like her for you . If any woman can keep you from stepping all over her, I think that one can,” Nikos clarified.

Theo sighed, studying his friend’s expression. “Why do I feel there is a ‘but’ in your observation,” he said.

“But… she is also very different from the women you normally date,” Nikos added.

Theo heard the hint of caution and concern—not for him, but for Rose—in his friend’s voice. He knew Rose wasn’t like the other women he dated. She was nothing like his former mistresses, all of whom knew the rules.

Hell, when it came to rules, he was the one who wasn’t sure he knew them now. He placed his empty glass on the tray of a passing server, his eyes narrowing moodily as he continued to watch Rose.

“What are you planning? Or should I ask?” Nikos muttered, finishing his drink and depositing his glass as well.

“Closing the gates. This time, she won’t escape me,” he confessed, shoving his hands into his pockets.

A flicker of unease tugged at him—but he pushed it aside. This wasn’t control. It was… time. And he would buy all the time he needed.

Nikos shot him a wary glance. “Are you sure that is a good idea with this one? Something tells me she won’t like it if she finds out.”

“She won’t, but who says she needs to find out? I need to turn the search for Lorenzo’s granddaughter over to you,” he said.

“Well, that sounds like fun,” Nikos muttered. “It looks like things are wrapping up here. Do you want to go to the club for a while?”

“No, you go. I think I’ll stick around for a little longer,” he murmured.

"I’ll console all the lovely ladies, offering a comforting shoulder as they mourn their loss.”

Theo shook his head as Nikos departed, his laughter fading along with the chatter of the other guests. He was already locked onto where Rose was collecting discarded glasses and plates.