Chapter 86

Claire pulled out her phone and added Shay as a friend. Her smile carried a soft warmth, like a breeze on a spring day. Her beauty was intense, the kind that turns heads instantly, but her calm and graceful vibe made her feel somehow approachable. It was a weird kind of charm—deceptively gentle. Only people who truly knew her understood the quiet chill beneath the surface. “Your profile pic looks just like you—drop-dead gorgeous,” Shay said, clearly smitten, totally forgetting that Julian was still standing there. “Thanks,” Claire replied, accepting the compliment without hesitation. Shay was about to keep chatting when a chill voice cut in, sharp enough to send shivers: “Manager Reese, are you that free?” Shay flinched hard. You’d have to be blind not to catch the annoyance in his tone, so Shay tucked his phone away fast. “I’ll get back to work now.” The man basically bolted, moving so fast he could’ve passed for a racewalker. Claire slid her phone into her pocket. Seeing Julian still