Page 47

It’s probably not the first time he’s spoken. It’s simply the first time I actually hear him.

“No. Thanks,” I whisper, turning away.

I leave the club without another glance.

In the end, coming here did help me.

It reminded me that I was right.

FIFTEEN

Zayn

“Tomorrow night is the Premier Business Awards Gala. We won’t be able to make it, but you could still attend,” Theo tells me.

I set my phone on the edge of the sink and run a hand through my hair, trying to make it look decent.

“I don’t even like those events when all of us are there, and you want me to go alone?”

A quiet chuckle comes through the speaker. “Then take a date.”

The thought barely has time to surface before I crush it. I refuse to let it settle, refuse to give it room to grow. Instead, I focus on the familiar routine, making sure I look presentable, then grab my phone and take it off speaker.

“I’m not promising anything, Theo,” I tell him honestly. “I’m heading to the club. I’ll send you pictures and updates. Bye.”

After ending the call, I slip the phone into my pocket.

Lately, my days have been nothing but renovations and decorating, so I’m wearing black sweatpants and a T-shirt that lets me move around without restriction.

I grab my keys from the kitchen island and head out without stopping to check whether she’s awake.

On the drive to the club, I call Beatrix to catch up on the urgent matters at the office. I sign a few contracts during the conversation, leaving Ethan to handle the rest.

I’m the first to arrive.

Strange.

Selene is almost always here before anyone else. And judging by the silence in the suite when I left, she was no longer at the hotel, no matter how hard I tried not to notice.

I bend down to grab a pair of gloves from the box, and at that exact moment the doors swing open, voices and footsteps spilling into the room.

Looks like her crew has arrived.

Mine are dealing with an issue at one of the construction sites this morning, so they won’t be here until after lunch.

“Good morning,” someone calls from behind me. “Looks like Selene is missing, but you stole her spot and arrived first,” a woman adds with a smile.

My head snaps to her.

“What do you mean she’s missing?” I ask, the words coming out far sharper than I intend.

The smile fades from her face.

“She sent us a message last night asking us to stick to the schedule and send her updates three times a day because she’ll be absent…”

“For how long?” I interrupt.

“She didn’t say,” another woman answers as she joins us.