“Huh?” Hayden looked at me, eyebrows scrunched up.


    I stepped closer, close enough to catch the clean, soapy scent clinging to him, like he’d just


    showered.


    It smelled really good.


    It smelled really good.


    It took me back to when my parents were still around, and we used bar soap for everything–


    washing hands, taking baths. Now it’s all about the fancy body wash. You hardly ever smell real bar


    soap anymore. “Are you hiding something from me?” I asked.


    He frowned and looked me up and down. “You good? How much did you drink?”


    I’d only had one drink–not enough to even get tipsy–but apparently, he noticed.


    Iughed and grabbed his shirt cor, giving it a yful tug. “Come on, Hayden Hart, don’t y


    dumb. I mean, are you hiding your real identity? Secretly loaded? Maybe even the real boss behind


    OceanixCorp?”


    His jaw tightened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


    He stepped back, like he needed some space.


    “Oh, you really don’t know, or are you just faking it? Messing with me?” I pushed, stepping closer


    again, not letting him off the hook.


    Hayden didn’t say anything, just kept his eyes locked on mine, and I stared right back.


    We stood like that, caught in some silent standoff under the dim stairwell light.


    Images of Yuna’s courtyard shed through my mind, then her illness, and finally, the way Hayden


    looked the first time we met. I was the one who broke the stare, letting out a dryugh. “You’re too


    broke to be that guy, anyway.”


    I let go of his shirt and turned to head back to my room, but he grabbed my arm. “Did you drive


    home?” I smiled. “Nah, I got a driver.”


    1 stuck my tongue out at him yfully. “I’m careful, you know. Don’t wanna put anyone else in


    danger.” The cold look in his eyes softened a bit. He reached out and patted my head gently. “Good


    girl.”


    It felt like he wasforting a little kid. I blinked. “I’m kinda jealous of Yuna.”


    “Hmm?”


    I forced a smile. “She must’ve been so spoiled by you growing up.”


    Hayden’s gaze deepened, and then he grabbed my wrist and started pulling me toward his room.


    “I’m making you some honey chamomile tea.”


    1 wanted to say no, but his hand was so warm, and I just couldn’t resist. So I let him lead me


    inside.


    Ugh, I’m such a sucker for this.


    A few minutester, he handed me a cup of tea, and I noticed it was in a cartoon mug shaped like a


    cat’s


    head.


    It was definitely a girl’s cup. But Yuna isn’t here…


    “Whose cup is this? I don’t like using other people’s stuff,” I said, testing him.


    “It’s yours. I bought it just for you.” His words made my heart skip a beat, and I felt my cheeks heat


    up.


    I took a sip. The tea was sweet.


    It felt like being spoiled.


    “Don’t drink liquor alone anymore. It’s not safe,” Hayden said.


    “I was with Steve. I told you before, with him around, I’m fine,” I replied, keeping it real.


    His eyes darkened, but he didn’t say anything.


    I took another sip of tea, then heard him ask, “Do you trust him that much?”


    “Yeah. He’s always been good to me. He treats me like a little sister.” I fiddled with the cup handle,


    trying to shake off the tension.


    Hayden stayed quiet, and I thought back to dinner. “Guess who I ate with tonight?”


    “Not just Steve?” His tone was weird, but I didn’t think much of it.


    “Cole Drago, Thorsten Drago’s son,” I said casually. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Hayden’s face instantly clouded over. “What are you trying to do?”


    I pressed my lips together, debating whether to tell him Cole had offered to introduce me to


    Thorsten. But Hayden’s sharp look stopped me. “Keira, I know what you’re trying to find out, but


    stay out of this. I’ll take care of it.”