Chapter 28 

Eliora's POV

The city noise seemed to fade into a hum as I stepped out of my dead car. The heat of the asphalt radiated through the soles of my shoes, but I was focused on the man standing before me. Up close, he was even more striking. The black vintage muscle car behind him looked like a beast kept on a leash, and he looked like the only person capable of holding it.

He wasn't just tall; he had an athletic build that filled out his dark suit in a way that spoke of power and discipline. His skin was a smooth olive tone, and his features were sharp—a straight nose, a strong jawline with just a hint of dark stubble, and those eyes. Those amber eyes were like looking into a sunset.

“I… my car,” I stammered, finally finding my voice. My hands were shaking slightly as I clutched my designer bag. “I think I’m out of fuel. I was in such a rush this morning, I didn't even look.”

He didn't move away. Instead, he leaned back against his car, crossing his arms over his chest. A slow, melodic chuckle vibrated in the air between us. 

“Are you going to keep drooling over me, or are we going to fix your car?” My face went from warm to scorching hot in an instant. I quickly looked down, smoothing my skirt with trembling fingers, trying to regain some of my dignity. “I was not drooling! I was just… surprised. You came out of nowhere. It's not every day a car like that pulls up to a breakdown.”

He stood up straight, closing the small gap between us. He was easily a head taller than me, and his shadow fell over me, cool and protective. “Surprised? By a guy in a vintage car?” He winked, and the light caught the gold flecks in his eyes. “You’re beautiful, Eliora. But you’re also very stranded.”

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. “How do you know my name?”

He gestured with a tilt of his head toward the passenger seat of my car, where my work ID lanyard was draped over my briefcase. “I’m observant. It's a habit of mine. And I’m Caden.”

He held out a hand. When I took it, his grip was firm and lingering. His skin was warm, and for the first time in a while, I felt a spark of something that wasn't fear or exhaustion. The air between us felt light, almost joyful. Almost… freeing.

“Look, I can’t leave a lady on the side of the road in this heat,” Caden said, glancing at the line of traffic building behind us. “I’ll give you a lift. Where are you headed?”

I looked at my silent car and then back at him. Every instinct told me not to get into a stranger's car, but Caden didn't feel like a stranger. He felt like an escape. “The Monroe Group building. It’s just a few blocks up, but I'm already late for a meeting.”

“Then we shouldn't keep your board of directors waiting,” he said, walking to the passenger side of his car and opening the door with a flourish.

The interior of the muscle car was a sanctuary. It smelled of expensive sandalwood and polished wood. As he pulled into the lane, the engine gave a powerful growl that I could feel in my chest. Caden drove with a quiet, certain grace, weaving through the midday traffic with ease. He made jokes about the city’s terrible drivers and told me he had just arrived in town for a "business expansion."

I found myself laughing—really laughing. I hadn't realized how much I needed a moment of normalcy until I was sitting next to a man who didn't know a single one of my secrets.

When we pulled up to the curb in front of my office building, the sleek black car drew stares from everyone on the sidewalk. Caden didn't unlock the doors immediately. He put the car in park and turned in his seat, his gaze dropping to my lips for a split second before meeting my eyes again.

“So, Eliora,” he started, his voice dropping into a smooth, deep register. “I’ve done you a favor. I’ve saved you from a long walk and a very bad morning. And in my world, favors require a payback.”

I gripped my bag, my pulse jumping in my neck. “Oh? And what do you have in mind? I can have my assistant send you a check for the fuel and your time.”

He laughed, a rich, genuine sound that made my stomach do a weird flip. “No. I don't want your money, Eliora. I want a date. One dinner. Just you and me. No work, no cars, just conversation.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. I shouldn't say yes to this. It will only complicate things. 

I was already taking a risk working with Kian in his penthouse. Things are sure to go south if the press finds out. 

Taking a date with Caden was a recipe for disaster and hot gist for the press. But then I looked at his amber eyes, and the urge to resist suddenly left me. I suddenly wanted to be the woman Caden saw… A beautiful woman who deserved a nice dinner.

“Okay,” I said, the word coming out softer than I intended. “One date. That seems like a fair payback.”

Caden’s smirk grew into a triumphant smile. He reached out, his fingers grazing my chin for just a second. “Smart girl. I’ll be in touch, Eliora. I'm very good at finding what I'm looking for.”

He clicked the locks, and I stepped out onto the sidewalk. As I watched the black car pull away, I felt a blush creeping up my neck like a highschool girl who just got asked out by her crush. For the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about the past. I was hopefully about the future.