MELISSA'S POV

“No. No. No.”

That was not—

“Xavier?!” I said before I could stop myself.

He turned around like this was normal.

Like I wasn’t standing here with my mouth open.

Like I hadn’t just signed a modeling contract, only to see him standing at the center of the studio — in front of the lights, dressed in all black, hair pushed back, arms crossed like this was his set.

My blood ran cold.

“Hey,” he said casually.

Marco stepped up beside me, smiling. “Don’t ...