<h4>Chapter 152: How Romantic</h4>


    Hailey


    I follow the group toward the terrace, my smile tight, my steps steady, even though my insides are twisting. Elise’s fingers on Josh’s arm didn’t go unnoticed, not by me, not by Reba, and certainly not by Marcus, who looks like he’s savoring every second of this mess.


    He did this on purpose, didn’t he? He sent Elise after Josh.


    Josh leans toward me as we walk, his voice low. "Is it just me, or is this whole night starting to feel like a setup?"


    "It’s not just you," I murmur, keeping my voice light.


    "Good. Thought maybe I was being paranoid."


    "You are a little," I say with a faint smile, "but that doesn’t mean you’re wrong."


    He chuckles under his breath, and I feel his hand brush against mine. Elise turns to nce over her shoulder. So I arch an eyebrow at her and slide my hand into Josh’s.


    Let her see.


    Let Marcus see.


    Reba gives my hand a gentle squeeze as she passes by, her lips quirking with silent encouragement.


    Elise is already pulling off her earrings, like she’s on a runway instead of a rooftop.


    "There are towels in the cab," Marcus says. "And suits."


    Josh gives Marcus a skeptical nce but says nothing, his fingers tightening briefly around mine. I give him a nudge. "Go ahead. I want to see which ridiculous pattern you end up with."


    He smirks and leans in to whisper, "If there’s a mingo one, I’m wearing it just to mess with him."


    "Please do," I whisper back, biting down a smile.


    "Why do you have so many extra suits, Marcus? Are you in the habit of hosting a lot of orgies?" Reba asks casually.


    I nearly choke on air.


    Marcus, of course, doesn’t miss a beat. He tilts his head toward Reba with that insufferable smirk. "Only tasteful ones."


    Reba bats hershes. "Ah, so just the emotionally repressed kind."


    That earns a snort from Josh as he disappears inside to change. Marcus’s jaw tightens, but the smile on his face doesn’t slip. He’s too practiced for that. I wonder how many masks he keeps in rotation.


    Reba grabs my hand. "Let’s go change."


    I let Reba pull me along, grateful for the momentary escape from Marcus’s gaze.


    Inside, the guest bathroom is sleek, marble, and ridiculous like the rest of his ce. Reba rifles through a drawer and pulls out two swimsuits still in stic wrap. She tosses me a ck one-piece with gold ents.


    "This screams ’don’t touch me unless you’re ready to die,’" she says with a wink. "Perfect."


    I peel off my dress and slip into the suit. Luckily it fits perfectly.


    Reba is in a crimson bikini that leaves little to the imagination. "If we’re going to be pawns in Marcus’s twisted little poolside chess match, we might as well be hot pawns," she deres, fluffing her hair.


    "You are ridiculous."


    "I am effective." She nces at me, her expression softening. "You okay?"


    I nod. "Just... annoyed."


    "With Marcus?"


    "With all of it. The maniption. The power ys. The fact that he actually thinks this might work."


    Reba rolls her eyes. "He needs it to work. That’s what makes it so sad. Marcus wants Hailey because he can’t have her. Not because he loves her. It’s just—"


    "A game," I finish.


    She shrugs. "But Josh? He’s not ying. And that’s what scares Marcus the most."


    I don’t reply. I just grab a towel and open the door.


    The cool night air hits my skin as we step back out onto the terrace. The hot tub glows under ambient lighting, steam curling into the dark sky.


    Elise is already draped along the edge, the picture of effortless seduction, her legs stretched out, her champagne ss tiltedzily in her hand.


    Josh appears from around the corner just as we rejoin the group.


    I blink.


    There they are...mingos. Bright pink and smugly ridiculous, strutting across his swim trunks.


    Reba lets out a delighted cackle. "You did not."


    "Oh, he did," I say, biting my lip to hold backughter.


    Josh gives us a theatrical bow. "Marcus has surprisingly festive taste in emergency swimwear."


    Marcus doesn’t respond. He just sips from his drink, his gaze flicking from Josh’s shorts to my face, then quickly away.


    Good.


    Reba climbs into the water first, all long limbs and unapologetic confidence. She ims a seat with a flourish, sighing as the heat envelops her.


    "God, that’s nice," she murmurs.


    Josh steps in next, water sloshing around his knees as he slides beside me. I hesitate for a second, aware of all the eyes on us, including Marcus’s but then I let it go. I step down into the water and settle next to Josh, his arm immediately draping around my shoulders.


    Elise watches us quietly, her expression cool.


    "How long are you in town, Elise?" I ask, keeping my tone pleasant.


    She tilts her head. "Oh, just a few more days. I’ve got a shoot in Barcelona next week. But I’m hoping to get Josh’s answer before then."


    Josh gives a faint smile, but I feel the tension ripple through his body.


    "He’d be crazy to say no. The Mn contract would change everything for him," Marcus offers.


    Reba lifts her sszily. "Some things aren’t meant to be changed."


    "Some things aren’t meant to be wasted, either," Marcus replies smoothly.


    I turn my head just slightly, resting it against Josh’s shoulder.


    I’m d, so d that he is here with me.


    Josh runs his fingers along my arm in a slow, grounding motion. "I’m not in a rush to leave," he says evenly, directing his words more to Marcus than anyone else. "And if I do, it won’t be because someone handed me a golden ticket."


    Elise shifts in the water, swirling the bubbles with her fingers. "No one’s saying you don’t deserve the opportunity, Josh. But sometimes, the best chances don’t wait."


    "You are right," I say calmly. "Whatever Josh decides, he has my full support."


    Marcus makes some kind of rude noise and gs a server toe near the hot tub.


    The server approaches, carrying a silver tray of fresh drinks—more champagne, some sort of designer cocktail with a sprig of rosemary, and something dark and brooding that matches Marcus’s entire personality. He grabs thetter without looking at anyone.


    "Support is great," he says coolly, "but support doesn’t pay the bills. Or build legacies."


    "You forget, I’m not a full time model, Marcus. I have a job. I only modeled because of Hailey," Josh says with a tight jaw.


    Marcus takes a slow sip from his ss, the corners of his mouth curling just slightly. "Ah yes. How very romantic."