Chelsea once gave me a simple lesson on how to tweak my voice. Even I now recognize that Mellow spoke in a high pitch—that entitled tone that tends to draw attention.

I’ve learned to be more comfortable speaking in a lower tone—in a kind of way that exudes nonchalance.

“I don’t think so,” I say blandly. “You don’t look familiar to me.”

I still feel Zeath’s eyes on me. But I don’t bother looking at him even as I immediately step out once the elevator reaches my ...