Page 24 of Steel Beauty

“It’s Retro Rhythms night,” I add with a playful grin. “A throwback to ’70s and ’80s music. There’ll be dancing in the backroom. Come. Wear your dancing shoes.”

For a moment, I think she might say something—but instead, she gives a small nod, her smile hovering like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.

I watch her go, a quiet thrill settling in, knowing she means to keep me guessing.

Chapter7

Magnolia Steel

The revolvingdoors of the Harbourview Grand sweep open with a soft whoosh, and just inside, the doorman greets me with a polite nod. The lobby, with its sleek marble floors and quiet luxury, feels familiar now, almost welcoming in a way it didn’t before. It’s just a hotel, but knowing it belongs to Caesar’s family makes me see it differently—maybe even like it a little more. It feels more personal, like it holds a part of him, a glimpse into the world he comes from.

I cross the lobby and step into the waiting elevator, replaying our evening in my head—his easy smile, the way he looked at me like I was someone worth knowing.

The elevator arrives at my floor, and I step out, making my way down the hall. I’m halfway there when Sophie’s door swings open, and Elijah steps out—shirt untucked and hair disheveled.

I stop dead in my tracks. Perfect. Exactly who I don’t want to run into, but there’s no avoiding him now.

He freezes when he sees me, fumbling to smooth his shirt as if that’ll somehow hide the fact that he looks like he just crawled out of Sophie’s bed. Could he not have the decency to stay until morning and then do the walk of shame like a normal person?

“Uh… hey… umm.” He stumbles over his words, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just, uh, checking in with Sophie about our plans for tomorrow. The coastal walk is still on.”

I raise a brow, biting back a smirk. “Glad to hear nothing has changed.” Since dinner.

His obvious lie makes the moment painfully awkward. He shifts uncomfortably under my gaze, his eyes dropping to my blouse. I notice him zero in on the extra button I left undone, revealing a little cleavage, and his expression shifts.

“Have you been out?” His words carry a sharp edge, as if he actually believes he has the right to question my whereabouts.

Thefuckingnerve.

“Just went for a walk.”

His frown deepens. “You shouldn’t be out walking alone at night in a city you don’t know. I would’ve been happy to go with you.”

Disgust simmers inside me. He has the gall to say that, right after slipping out of Sophie’s bed? And now he thinks he’s somehow my protector, like I needhimto keep me safe.

My smile remains firmly in place though it’s brittle around the edges. “While I appreciate the concern, Elijah, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”

What I don’t tell him is that I learned how to handle men at a young age. Honestly, I could probably protect him better than he could protect me.

“Goodnight, Elijah.” The finality in my words leaves no room for argument.

I turn on my heel and head toward my room, leaving him standing there with whatever excuse or charm he was about to throw my way.

The door clicks behind me, and I kick off my shoes, striding to the window. Sydney’s breathtaking view sprawls before me, but my mind is tangled in what I did tonight with Caesar.

It was wrong. Meeting him is a direct violation of company policy, and if anyone at Soul Sync finds out, I could be terminated.

Twisting my hair absentmindedly over one shoulder, I wonder what Gabby would think if she knew. Gabby trusted me with this assignment, and here I am, risking it all.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I rub my temples. I shouldn’t have gone to meet him. I knew better, and I did it anyway.

But the truth is I’m not sure I’d take it back.

The attraction to him will pass––that’s what I told myself, but it’s even worse now that I’ve met him. Because Julius Caesar isn’t just easy to talk to; he’s impossible to ignore. The pull is stronger now, sharper, and being around him feels like stepping too close to the edge.

And that’s a problem.

I don’t know what to do. My head is spinning, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t make sense of it. I need to talk to someone––someone who can help me sort this out before I make a bigger mistake.

---