Page 56 of Steel Beauty

And he chose me. He’s mine for the next three months, and that’s all that matters.

I sit at my desk, scrolling through the Soul Sync profiles of the couple scheduled to arrive later this week. My notes are scattered across the top—color palettes, fabric swatches, and a few sketches for the dating suite decor. I tap my pen against the paper, brainstorming ways to make the space perfect for them based upon the profile I received.

The door suddenly swings open, startling me, as Elijah bursts in with far more energy than necessary. “Where were you this morning?”

I blink, momentarily thrown off. “What?”

“I brought you your favorite drink from the café. I waited outside your room, knocked several times, but you never answered. Didn’t even hear the shower running.”

A cold ripple of discomfort prickles down my spine. Was he seriously standing there, listening for me in the shower?

What the fuck is wrong with this guy?

I shove the thought aside and school my expression into something inscrutable. “There was an issue with my room. The hotel had to move me.”

Elijah’s frown deepens. “What kind of issue?”

I shrug. “I’m not sure. I didn’t press for details.”

His arms cross over his chest, his displeasure unmistakable. “Where’d they move you to?”

“Several floors up.” There’s no way I’m giving him my new room number, let alone telling him I’m staying in the penthouse. The last thing I need is Elijah knowing where to find me.

His eyes narrow, clearly not satisfied with my vague response, but I hold my ground, meeting his gaze without flinching. If he’s fishing for details, he’s not getting them from me.

“Do they plan to move you back to the room near us?”

“I don’t think so. And honestly, I hope they don’t. The new room has an amazing view of the harbor.”

I battle the smile tugging at my lips. This morning’s view was easily the most breathtaking thing I’ve ever woken up to. But it wasn’t because of the harbor. JC, with his tousled hair and the sheet slung low on his hips, looked like pure, unapologetic sin. The way his dark eyes locked on mine, as if I was the only thing in the world he wanted, made the skyline disappear entirely.

“Being so far from Whitney, Sophie, and me will be a hassle for you.”

“Well, they did give me a free upgrade for the inconvenience. I think I’ll survive.”

Elijah doesn’t seem ready to drop the issue, but I am.

I lower my gaze to my desk, dismissing him. “I’m still pulling everything together for the new set. I’ll let you know later today when I’m ready to discuss it.”

“Sure thing.” With a small nod, he heads out of my office.

The rest of the day passes in a blur of color swatches and furniture arrangements. I lose myself in the design, piecing together how everything will come together for the new clients.

My small staging warehouse in Sydney isn’t nearly as stocked as the one in Charleston, and I’m missing a few key pieces that would make the space perfect. I’ll need to go shopping tomorrow.

With the deadline looming, I hand off the building portion of the set to Elijah, who, thankfully, doesn’t feel the need to talk it to death. At least when he’s busy building, he’s not hovering over me.

I’ll give him credit where it’s due—he’s good at what he does. He always aims to get things exactly right, double-checking every detail to make sure I’m pleased with the final product. And he’s never missed a deadline, which is probably why, despite all the reasons I have to complain about him, I know I’ll never be rid of him unless he makes the decision to leave.

Still, I’m relieved when Elijah is finally out of sight, leaving me alone with my sketches and plans.

My phone buzzes on the desk, lighting up with a message.

Hey, favorite. Got a business dinner tonight. Can I catch up with you afterward?

I smile, typing a quick reply.

That’s fine. I’ll grab dinner with my coworkers. Enjoy your meeting.

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