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The rest of the night passes in a blur of clinking champagne glasses and aching feet. I keep my head down, constantly checking over my shoulder while I pretend my heart isn't beating out of my chest.

Who the hell does he think he is, barking orders at me and disappearing into the night?

But when the gala finally rounds up, I duck into one of the staff changing rooms, strip out of my Blackwood uniform, and when I’m dressed, I grab my bag over and push open the door, stepping out into the quiet service corridor.

My heart drops into my stomach.

Nolan is leaning casually against the opposite wall, his dark eyes fixed on me. I freeze in my tracks. A slow, unsettling smile spreads across his face as he pushes himself off the wall and takes a step toward me.

"Alexis," he purrs, his tone dripping with fake warmth. "Why were you avoiding my table all night?"

I force a polite, empty smile, trying to keep my voice completely even. "I wasn't avoiding your table, Nolan. I was assigned to the west wing; it was just a chaotic shift."

Nolan tilts his head, his smile fading into something colder. "Is that right? Because Brendan said he asked you to bring him a scotch on the rocks, and you never showed up."

My stomach flips. Oh. After my intense encounter with Cain in that cramped service room, my mind was so overwhelmed that I completely forgot about Brendan’s drink.

"I got pulled into another task in the main kitchen," I lie quickly, taking a subtle step back. "I'm sorry, I completely forgot."

Nolan steps closer, narrowing his eyes as he studies my face. "He also mentioned a guy you were hugging in the back hallway."

I blink, genuinely shocked. "What?"

"Brendan said he caught you with a tall, huge guy in the corridor, and the two of you looked pretty cozy."

Is Brendan completely out of his mind? I didn't even hug Cain—I just grabbed his arm to stop him!

"He must have seen wrong," I say smoothly, crossing my arms to hide my nervous posture. "He was just a temporary waiter George hired for the event. He was completely lost looking for the wine storage, so I was pointing him in the right direction."

Nolan hums, rubbing his jawline. "Funny. I don't remember seeing him on the catering roster before. Why were you so familiar with him?"

"We worked another catering event together a few months ago," I lie without missing a beat, keeping my gaze locked with his. "Why are we even speaking about this?"

Nolan stares at me for a long, suffocating beat, searching my face for any sign of a slip-up. Finally, he lets out a quiet chuckle and nods, seeming to accept the answer.

He leans in close, his breath cold against my ear. "Just remember, sweetheart... I really dislike being lied to."

He pats my shoulder lightly, turns on his heel, and walks down the hall.

I stand there until the sound of his footsteps completely fades, my knees shaking. Wasting no time, I hurry toward the service doors, making a straight line for the underground garage.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CAIN

I check my watch for the fourth time in five minutes. The glowing digital display reads well past midnight. A cold, dark impatience gnaws at my gut, and I’m just about to step out of the black Cadillac and march back inside that hotel to find her myself when a small, familiar figure emerges from the heavy garage doors.

Alexis walks quickly toward the far pillar, scanning the dark rows of cars until her eyes lock onto the Cadillac.

The moment she reaches my door, I pop the lock and step out. I take one look at her face—the pale skin, the faint tremble in her lower lip, the lingering terror in her eyes—and my jaw tightens.

"What took you so long?" I demand.

Alexis wraps her arms tight around herself, leaning against the side of the car as she catches her breath. "Nolan was waiting for me outside the changing room."

A dark surge of rage hits me like a freight train. "What did he do?"

"He didn't touch me," she says quickly, though her voice shakes. "Brendan told him about seeing us in the hallway—he told Nolan we looked 'cozy.' Nolan asked why I was avoiding his table and who you were. I lied. I told him you were just a temporary waiter from an old catering job I worked months ago. He seemed to buy it, but before he left... he told me he hates being lied to."