Chapter 1 - THE MAN WHO STOPPED THE MUSIC
The first thing Noelle Hayes heard after her ex-fiancé called her pathetic was the jazz band stopping in the middle of a song.
The second was two hundred conversations dying at once.
The third was a man's deep voice from the ballroom entrance.
"Move."
Nobody argued.
Noelle slowly lifted her eyes.
At the top of the marble staircase stood Gabriel Russo, the one man in Chicago powerful people discussed only after checking whether the door was locked.
And he was looking directly at her.
Not at the alderman near the champagne tower.
Not at the billionaire whose company name covered half the donor plaques.
Not even at Derek Pierce, who had spent the last ten minutes humiliating Noelle in front of people who once called her a friend.
Gabriel descended the staircase.
When he reached her, he held out his hand.
Noelle stared at it.
"What are you doing?"
"Correcting a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"Leaving you alone in a room full of people who think money makes cruelty respectable."
Several donors suddenly found the orchids fascinating.
Derek's face tightened.
Gabriel still didn't look at him.
His attention remained on Noelle.
"You didn't answer your phone."
"I was working."
"I noticed."
Noelle lowered her voice.
"You cannot come into my workplace and terrify two hundred people because I missed your call."
Gabriel's mouth almost curved.
"I didn't terrify them."
A waiter nearly dropped a tray behind him.
Noelle looked pointedly at the waiter.
Gabriel sighed.
"Fine. Most of them."
Despite everything, she nearly smiled.
Then Derek stepped forward.
"Russo."
Gabriel finally turned.
The temperature in the ballroom seemed to fall.
Derek swallowed.
"I didn't realize you knew Noelle."
Gabriel glanced down at Noelle's scuffed flats, the event badge in her hand, and the humiliation she was trying desperately not to show.
"Clearly."
Derek forced a laugh.
"This is a private matter."
"No," Gabriel said quietly. "You made it public."
Chloe shifted beside Derek.
"We were only talking."
Gabriel looked at her.
Chloe immediately stopped talking.
Noelle rubbed her forehead.
"Gabriel, please."
He looked back at her.
That was all it took.
His expression changed.
Not softened exactly.
Gabriel Russo did not look soft.
But something dangerous disappeared from his eyes.
"What do you want?" he asked.
Noelle understood the question.
Not what should he do to Derek.
What did she want?
Six months ago, she might have asked Gabriel to destroy him.
Two years ago, she would have begged Derek to admit what he'd done.
Tonight she realized she wanted something far simpler.
"I want to finish my shift."
Gabriel studied her.
Then nodded.
"All right."
Derek relaxed too soon.
Gabriel took Noelle's clipboard, placed it gently on a passing table, then removed his black overcoat.
Before Noelle understood what he was doing, he draped it around her shoulders.
It smelled faintly of rain and cedar.
"I'm still working," she whispered.
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"I purchased the remaining event contractor hours twenty minutes ago."
Noelle stared.
"You what?"
"The contractor's invoice is settled."
"Gabriel."
"You said you wanted to finish your shift."
"I do."
"You have."
Derek's eyes widened.
Gabriel offered his hand again.
This time Noelle took it.
The reaction was immediate.
Whispers rippled through the room.
Someone near the stage lifted a phone.
Noelle pulled Gabriel closer.
"If this ends up on social media, I will personally murder you."
"Get in line."
He led her toward the center of the ballroom.
"What are you doing now?"
"Dancing."
"I don't dance with criminals."
"That is unfortunate."
"Why?"
"Because the band just started again."
The musicians, apparently valuing survival, immediately launched into a slow jazz standard.
Gabriel placed one hand at Noelle's waist.
Every eye followed them.
Derek looked furious.
Chloe looked terrified.
Noelle whispered, "You are enjoying this."
"Immensely."
Then Gabriel's amusement disappeared.
His gaze settled over Noelle's shoulder.
"Don't turn around."
Her stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"Because Derek just received a text."
"So?"
Gabriel's hand became firm at her waist.
"He turned white."
Noelle resisted the urge to look.
"Maybe his accountant found a conscience."
"No."
Gabriel's voice changed.
He leaned closer.
"Someone sent him a photograph."
"What photograph?"
Gabriel's eyes found hers.
"You."
Noelle stopped moving.
"What?"
"Taken tonight. Before I arrived."
Cold moved along her spine.
Gabriel continued dancing as if nothing had happened.
"Whoever sent it wrote one sentence."
Noelle could barely breathe.
"What sentence?"
Gabriel looked past her again.
Then his jaw hardened.
May you like
"'She remembers more than you think.'"
And for the first time that night, Derek Pierce looked genuinely afraid.
