The coffee shop buzzed with the usual morning rush—baristas shouting orders, the hiss of steaming milk, the low murmur of people pretending not to eavesdrop. You barely noticed. Years of working in the industry had taught you how to tune out background noise, even when it concerned you.

“Did you see the pictures of Luke and his manager?” someone at the next table whispered, not nearly as discreetly as they thought. “I swear, they have to be together. No way they aren’t.”

Luke Castellan, your client, your headache, your friend, strolled back from the counter, sliding into the seat across from you like he hadn’t just heard the same thing. He definitely had. You could tell from the way he was fighting back a smirk, eyes gleaming with the kind of mischief that usually led to trouble.

“You seeing this?” he asked, flipping his phone around so you could see the latest trending headline: LUKE CASTELLAN’S SECRET ROMANCE—MANAGER OR MORE?