Elena froze at the sound of his voice. Her hand hovered on the door handle, but she didn’t turn around.
“Yes?” she asked quietly, her tone controlled.
Lucian’s shoes clicked softly against the polished floor as he stepped closer. “You still haven’t answered me,” he said. “Why are you here, Elena? Of all places… this hotel.”
Her fingers tightened on the handle. She forced herself to face him. “Because I need a job,” she replied flatly. “Because unlike some people, I don’t have the luxury of throwing money at my problems.”
His jaw flexed, but his eyes stayed steady on hers. “You think that’s all it is? Work?” His voice lowered, sharper now. “Or are you hiding from something?”
Elena blinked at him, heat rising in her chest. “Hiding? You think you know me that well after one night?”
“I k
