Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3298

In a setting like this, Norah couldn't exactly cause a scene, so she had no choice but to follow him.

Gonzalez bypassed the elevators and led her up the grand staircase. The stairs were wide and eerily quiet, the glittering lights and the chatter of the banquet fading below them.

Norah trailed a step behind him. "What about your date? Is it really okay to just ditch her?"

Gonzalez paused, waiting for her to catch up. He slid his hand down her wrist to intertwine his fingers with hers. He looked down at her, searching her face for a flicker of jealousy.

But she looked as guarded and indifferent as she had been for days.

"She's my assistant," he clarified.

Norah lowered her eyes, biting her bottom lip. She had assumed the woman was just a hired date for the evening. If she was his assistant, that meant they were together all day, every day.

"Whatever. It has nothing to do with me," she said coolly.

The icy detachment in her voice felt like a physical blow to his chest. He didn't say anything else as he led her the rest of the way upstairs.

The upper floor was lined with private lounges and dressing rooms.

They found an empty suite and sat across from each other. Gonzalez poured her a cup of tea. "Have you had dinner?"

"I had some sushi," she replied.

His gaze lingered on her face. "I'll make you a late-night snack when we get back."

"There's no need. I'm full."

"Full off a few pieces of sushi?" he smiled faintly. "You normally eat a massive plate and still have room to steal snacks from Circe."

The casual reminder of their time together at his place—eating dinner, playing with the cat, laughing—sent a bitter pang through her chest.

When she didn't respond, his eyes darkened. "Norah," he started, his voice heavy, "do you think I'm too aggressive?"

Norah's head snapped up. "I thought you said you didn't want to be friends?"

"It's better than being treated like a stranger," he countered softly, holding her gaze. "So what's it going to be? Friends, or strangers?"

Norah was completely caught off guard. It felt like he was backing her into a corner.

Suddenly, Gonzalez frowned. He stood up, grabbed her hand, and yanked her toward the inner room.

It was a bedroom.

"What are you doing?" Norah gasped in shock.

"Someone's coming. Someone I know. We need to hide," he ordered in a harsh whisper.

"There's no one there!" She looked back at the closed door, convinced he was just playing games.