Chapter 32
Julian's POV
The elevator doors slid shut. I exhaled slowly, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease fractionally. My phone buzzed—a reminder about tomorrow's budget hearing. I swiped past it and opened social media instead, scrolling through updates I'd been ignoring all week.
My mother had posted another essay-length caption about her charity gala.
Then Nora's post appeared, and I stopped.
The photo showed an artfully arranged spread of food—salmon glistening under warm light, truffle pasta coiled into perfect spirals, lamb chops fanned across a white plate. The caption read: Deep-night food porn. Bon appétit!🍽️✨
I noticed the geotag.
Same restaurant. Same building.
The elevator chimed, and the doors opened onto the ground floor. Then I saw them.
I'd thought she refused my invitation to meet with her newly reconciled boyfriend, but when I saw Benjamin standing beside her, I realized I'd been mistaken.
Nora stood at the host stand with her back to me. Benjamin was laughing at something the hostess said. He held a to-go bag in his hand.
Benjamin spotted me first. His eyes widened, and he straightened like a soldier snapping to attention. "Mr. Sterling. What a coincidence."
Nora turned, and for a split second, something flickered across her face.
"The city arranged a dinner upstairs," I said. I paused. Then deliberately tested the waters. "So is this a date?"
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Nora's POV
The question hung in the air like a blade waiting to drop.
Benjamin practically tripped over his own feet rushing to clarify. "No! No, sir, absolutely not!" His face flushed crimson as he waved his hands frantically. "This is just—I mean, Nora's been mentoring me for over a year, and I wanted to thank her properly. That's all. Just a thank-you dinner between colleagues!"
I kept my expression neutral, refusing to let Julian see how much his directness had caught me off guard. "It's exactly what it looks like, Mr. Sterling. A regular meal between coworkers. Nothing more."
Something shifted in Julian's posture—a subtle relaxation in his shoulders, a flicker of relief crossing his face before he quickly controlled it. "I see."
The silence stretched uncomfortable and heavy. Benjamin clutched the takeout bag like a lifeline, his eyes darting between us.
"Well then," Julian finally spoke, his tone returning to measured professionalism. "Does Ms. Grey currently have a romantic partner?"
The question hit me like an unexpected punch. My mind went blank for a split second. What the hell kind of question is that? I searched his face for some indication of intent, but those silver-gray eyes remained frustratingly unreadable—calm, composed, revealing nothing.
Oh god. He couldn't be...
The thought was so absurd I nearly laughed out loud. One of the most powerful men in the federal government, standing in a restaurant lobby asking about my relationship status like we were at some awkward networking event.
Benjamin shot me a panicked glance, clearly as lost as I was.
I forced a polite smile, grasping for the only explanation that made sense. "If I don't, are you offering to introduce me to someone, Mr. Sterling?"
Julian's eyes widened slightly.
Before he could answer, I continued. "Because honestly, I'm perfectly content focusing on my career right now. Men tend to complicate things. Why would I trade job satisfaction for relationship drama? Work is far more rewarding."
Benjamin nodded enthusiastically beside me. "Exactly! Nora's absolutely right. Career first!"
I watched Julian's expression shift—subtle, almost imperceptible. That careful neutrality gave way to something darker. Disappointment? Frustration? His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, and when he spoke again, the warmth had drained from his voice.
"Your dedication to your work is indeed... admirable, Ms. Grey."
Technically a compliment, but it rang hollow. There was a weight behind those words I couldn't fully grasp—as if I'd somehow said exactly the wrong thing without knowing it.
Did I offend him?
The thought unsettled me more than it should have.
The air between us grew heavier with each passing second. Julian seemed to wrestle with something internal, his silver eyes distant for a moment before refocusing on us with renewed determination.
"I should at least offer you both a ride," he said, his voice carefully neutral again. "It's late."
Benjamin's eyes lit up immediately. "That would be great! I mean, if it's not too much trouble—"
"Not necessary, Mr. Sterling," I cut in smoothly, perhaps too quickly. "We drove here. It makes more sense to take our own car."
Benjamin's expression fell slightly, but he didn't contradict me. Julian studied me for a moment, that earlier emotion flickering across his features again.
"Of course," he said quietly. "That's more practical."
He stepped back, creating a distance between us that felt more emotional than physical. "Drive safely, then. Both of you."
"Goodbye, sir," Benjamin said quickly.
Before he turned away, I caught the slight downturn at the corner of his mouth. His shoulders carried a tension I hadn't noticed before, and there was something almost defeated in the way he moved toward the exit.
The glass doors swung shut behind him. Through the window, I watched the sleek black Lincoln pull away from the curb, its taillights disappearing into Silverton's evening traffic.
"Nora..." Benjamin's voice was tentative. "Why did you say no? That was the Federal Inspector General offering us a ride. These opportunities to connect with leadership are rare."
I turned to face him, pausing at the confusion in his expression. He genuinely didn't understand why I'd refused.
"Ben, our job is to serve the people who need us most, not to become accessories to federal power games. I don't think he's that calculating. But I do think we need to maintain boundaries."
"That makes sense," Benjamin said slowly, though he still looked uncertain. "But Nora... you have to admit, Mr. Sterling has been looking out for you specifically. How he made sure you got medical care after the crash, choosing you for the Blackwood investigation..." He paused. "That's not nothing."
I know, I wanted to say. That's exactly what worries me. I don't want to let another man into my world after just rejecting one.
"Come on. Let's get out of here."
We walked across the parking lot in silence. I slid into the passenger seat, staring out the window as Silverton's downtown lights blurred past. Julian's words and his frustrated expression kept flashing through my mind.