Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 81

Nora Reed and Chloe Caldwell found Leo Hamilton in the practice room. The door was ajar, spilling the heavy bass and steady drumbeats into the hallway. Leo stood at the microphone, one hand pressing his headphones to his ear as he hummed a low melody.

Just as Nora raised her hand to knock, she caught sight of someone sitting in the corner.

A man lounged at a small square conference table, his long legs crossed as he scrolled through his phone. He wore a crisp black shirt fastened with sapphire cufflinks, radiating an aura of cold, untouchable elegance.

Hudson Lancaster.

Nora froze, instinctively taking a half-step back. But beside her, Chloe knocked on the door without a second thought.

Hudson glanced up, his eyes locking onto Nora's. A faint, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Nora swallowed hard.

Hearing the knock, Leo shot an irritated glare at the door. But the moment he recognized Nora, his annoyance vanished. He pulled off his headphones, replacing his scowl with a bright, eager smile, and strode over to greet her.

"Our star manager!" Leo beamed. "What brings you here? Any new instructions for me?"

Nora hovered in the doorway, caught between retreating and walking into the lion's den. "Um... you look busy. I can come back later."

"Don't be like that," Leo said, pulling the door wide open. "Come on in and take a seat. I'm just wrapping up."

Before Nora could formulate an excuse, a deep, resonant voice drifted from the corner.

"Come in."

Alarm bells rang in Leo's head. He knew Nora was Gavin's girlfriend, his future sister-in-law. If a ruthless man like Hudson set his sights on her, it would be an utter disaster.

"Mr. Lancaster," Leo said, clearing his throat loudly to break the tension. "I think we're just about done here. If you have pressing matters to attend to, don't let me keep you. I need to go over some tedious schedule details with my manager anyway."

Hudson shifted his gaze to Leo. It was a flat, emotionless look, yet it sent a cold sweat breaking out across the back of Leo's neck.

"I'm not busy today," Hudson replied smoothly, looking back at his phone. "I'll sit for a while. It's no bother."

Leo opened his mouth to protest, but his courage completely failed him. He swallowed his words, cursing internally. What the hell was wrong with him today? Hudson was usually an icy fortress who never wasted time socializing, yet here he was, loitering in a cramped practice room like he had nowhere better to be.

Across the table, Nora was practically vibrating with nervous energy. She could feel Hudson's gaze sliding over her again and again, laden with a heavy, unspoken tension. It wasn't just a casual glance; it was a slow, deliberate tease.