Page 59 of Titus

“No,” I said immediately.

“Oh shit,” Nat said, covering her laugh and smile.

“Bold move,” Cameron said, raising his glass toward the spot where I last saw Titus. “Sounds like you’ve certainly caught the man’s attention.”

Evelyn’s smile widened slightly. “Oh, yes.”

I stared at Evelyn while everyone else’s voices faded into background noise.

“I’m sorry, but I truly don’t think he would do that.” I knew it didn’t make sense, but I said it anyway.

I closed my eyes briefly. Something felt so off about this that I had to know exactly how much the man donated. It felt manipulative and strangely thoughtful all at once, which somehow made it worse.

“How much did Mr. Hawk donate?” I asked carefully.

Evelyn hesitated only half a second. “Eight hundred and twenty-five thousand.”

The exact amount the man offered me to work his yacht event this weekend. I nearly laughed out loud. Not because it was funny, but because it was positively insane.

That arrogant, manipulative, son of a⁠—

“Cat?” Avery said after I closed my eyes to regain my composure.

When I reopened them, I saw that Titus was now standing directly beside Evelyn.

“Ms. Veléz,” he said smoothly, his voice lower beneath the music and conversation around us. “You look stunning tonight.”

I straightened slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Hawk.”

What the fuck?

“Titus,” he corrected softly. “I trust that Evelyn has informed you about the donation I made in your honor this evening?”

“She did,” I said. “Thank you. Now,” I smiled at the amused expressions on my friends’ faces, then looked at Evelyn, “forgive me, but I must return to my duties for the evening. I trust all of you will have a wonderful evening.”

My formality forced itself to the surface, and I couldn’t contain how firm and rigid I suddenly sounded. I know everyone must’ve found it funny… but I didn’t. I found it confusing, and I truly didn’t know what the hell to think about this man.

I couldn’t keep pondering any of it, though. Tonight was about the benefit, and my team and I were going to make sure everything ran smoothly—even up until the point when my damn name was called out as possibly one of the largest donations of the night.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The Getty Center looked entirely different after the gala ended. Gone were the orchestra’s music drifting through the terraces, the polished laughter of billionaires pretending they weren’t studying one another’s wealth, and the endless flow of champagne beneath golden light.

Now, the place was quieter. I watched the staff move through the terraces, dismantling perfection piece by piece, while Los Angeles glowed endlessly below the cliffs, as if the night were just waking up.

And somehow, after hours of watching Catalina Veléz command the entire evening with impossible precision… I still couldn’t leave.

I stood alone near the west terrace, one hand in the pocket of my slacks, the other loosely wrapped around a glass of bourbon I hadn’t touched in nearly twenty minutes.

That alone should’ve concerned me. Normally? I didn’t linger anywhere. I sure as shit didn’t wait on anyone, and I definitely didn’t spend an entire goddamn evening watching a woman move through a room like she owned it without needing to draw attention to herself.

But Cat? Jesus Christ.

The woman had somehow managed to become the only thing I could focus on in a room full of Los Angeles’s most powerful people.

And the most dangerous part? I wasn’t entirely sure when I allowed that to happen.

My gaze shifted to the lower terrace, where the remaining members of her team were beginning to clear the final floral installations.