Page 26 of Perfect Rhythm

NYX

Popping up at Shade’s penthouse in the middle of the day was probably a terrible idea.

Especially after last night. Knowing him, he’d probably used some random chick to help him relax .

That wasn’t my concern though. I wasn’t trying to go inside or catch a show.

I just wanted to hit the front desk and tell them to have him send down my car keys. Oh, and my phone, if he’d found it.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I asked Skye as I stepped out of her car.

“Yes, I’ll be fine.”

“Look, I can just grab my car and go right back to your place. I don’t want you to?—”

“I’m fine. Really,” she insisted.

I looked her over, assessing if she was okay enough to be left alone. But maybe a little alone time was what she needed. I didn’t want to smother her.

“Okay. I’ll check on you once I leave here.”

She tilted her head. “Speaking of us being here, I don’t remember you mentioning how your car ended up here last night.”

“It’s a long story.”

“Hmm...I bet,” she shot back. “Are you and Shade finally fucking?”

“No!”

“Close to fucking?”

“No!”

She stared me down, her eyes saying that she was far from convinced about my last answer. But now wasn’t the time for that discussion. She had enough on her plate, and after all of the exhaustion, the only thing I wanted to do was get my shit and go home.

“You’re lucky I don’t have the energy to get all up in your business. Because if I did?—”

“Byeeeeeeee,” I said teasingly before shutting the door and giving her a playful wave.

She rolled down the window. “You’re not slick, Nyx.”

“No one’s trying to be slick.”

“Yeah, well, seeing as your man was out here screwing someone else, I think it’s pretty fair that you do the same. In fact, go get you some mid-afternoon dick.” She sighed. “I swear I would if there was somebody I wanted to get it from.”

My mouth dropped. “I’m not doing that.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because I’m just not. Now, bye.” I turned away from her and strolled past my car to make sure it was still good. Needless to say, it was fine. Shade’s building was under constant surveillance.

When I made it to the front desk, there was a gray haired gentleman talking on the phone. As soon as he saw me, he smiled and motioned for me to come closer.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Fenton,” he greeted as he hung up the phone.

I frowned, trying to figure out how he knew my name. I didn’t recall seeing him last night—not that I really had the chance. I was rushed upstairs to Shade’s penthouse so fast, I barely noticed anyone in the lobby.

“Um, hi. I’m assuming that since you know me, you probably know who I’m here to see.”

“Of course. Mr. Shade, correct?”

“Yes. So, if you could just call him and have him send someone down with my car keys, that would be great.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you.” I turned around, my eyes looking over the building that reminded me of a luxury hotel.

Polished marble floors stretched beneath my feet, with gold accents and floor-to-ceiling windows that let the sunlight in like it was invited.

“Alright, he’s sending someone down to get you.”

“To get me?” I hurried back toward the desk. “No, I didn’t need anyone to come get me. I just wanted someone to bring me my keys. Oh, and my phone.” Shit, I forgot to ask for that. “Did you tell him what I said?”

“Yes, I did, and he said that he would have someone come down to get you.”

My shoulders dropped. Of course, he did.

“Welcome back,” Trace said as he strolled around the corner and motioned for me to come his way.

“No need for all of that. I just came to get my keys. Can you go back up there and get them for me?”

He shook his head. “That’s not what I was instructed to do.”

“Okay, but it’s what I’m asking you to do. I don’t need to go up there.”

I glanced at the private elevator. I was in way too much turmoil to be alone with Shade. Not to mention, I was still a little pissed at him for adding to the embarrassment that I was already facing with the Eli shit.

“Why not?” Trace questioned.

I could see the smirk dancing at the corner of his mouth, which only irritated me more.

“Because I just can’t. I’m mad at him right now.” I chose those words over the ones I truly didn’t want to say out loud.

“Really?” Trace folded his arms over his chest. They were so big. I could only imagine how many necks he’d snapped. “Do explain.”

“What do you mean? You were there? You saw the way he humiliated me.”

“The way he humiliated you? If my memory serves me correctly, it was your weak ass boyfriend that did that, and Shade handled him for putting his hands on you.”

“Ex-boyfriend,” I corrected. “Also, I don’t need anyone handling anything for me. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

“Yeah, well, now that you’re messing around with Shade, taking care of yourself is the last thing he’s going to allow you to do. Now, let’s go,” Trace said as he reached for my arm.

I yanked away before he could touch me. “Who the hell said I was messing around with Shade? I haven’t even been single for a full twenty-four hours.”

Trace dropped his head, then turned around slowly, his irritation becoming clearer by the second.

“Look, you may think you have control over this little situation, but you don’t.

” He chuckled lightly. “I’ll admit, I thought he was barking up the wrong tree when whatever this is first started.

But after seeing the two of you together, I already know he’s not going to let you get away.

He has you. You just haven’t decided to admit it yet. ”

My frown deepened.

I didn’t know if I should’ve been offended or?—

“And before you start overthinking everything I’m saying, let me make it plain.

You’re the kind of woman who has his attention in a way that I’ve never seen.

He wants you in his space, and despite you trying to fight it, you want him in yours.

” He paused for a second, eyes flicking away like the words hurt to say.

“That kind of connection? It doesn’t come around often.

It pulls you in, whether you’re ready or not.

So if you’re smart, you don’t run from it.

You hold on while it’s yours. Because nothing that powerful lasts forever. ”

I tilted my head, studying Trace closely.

He wasn’t just talking to talk. It sounded like he was speaking from personal experience, which caught me off guard.

I never took him as the type who had been touched by love, let alone affected by it.

Then again, I didn’t know him well enough to say that for sure.

He just moved like someone who didn’t care about that kind of thing.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Trace ignored me and continued. “What he did last night was him protecting someone he truly cares about. Now, you might need some time to adjust to that idea, but either way, you’re going to eventually give in. The shit’s inevitable.”

“But what if I don’t want to give in? What if it just lands me exactly where I already am? Mistreated and cheated on.”

Trace shook his head. “That won’t happen.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Shade’s committed. He doesn’t commit to shit that he can’t follow through on.”

I pondered his words.

It sounded good. But men would be men. That had been proven.

“Just take me to get my keys,” I said, finally moving toward the elevator.

Bottom line, I had no business even entertaining the idea of being with someone else. If anything, I should’ve been thinking about how I was going to get my lick back and embarrass the hell out of Eli. But honestly, I wasn’t even in the mood for that.

Trace gestured for me to step into the elevator, then trailed in behind me. I waited for him to punch in the code to the penthouse, but he told me the numbers instead.

“I thought that was like classified information or some shit.”

“It is. But Shade wanted you to have access whenever you needed it.”

Wow, this man is dead ass serious.

Not saying another word, I keyed the number into the small touch screen and stepped back.

“Your fingerprint is now locked in, so you’ll only have to press the first button for full access in the future.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep,” Trace replied before folding his hands in front of him and looking up.

We rode in silence, the elevator quietly carrying us to the top floor.

I tried to steady my breathing, reminding myself that I just needed to hold it together long enough to get what I came for.

Be strong, Nyx. You got this.