Page 51 of I See You

"Yeah," he said smoothly, his voice void of emotion, even though his entire body reacted to her presence.

She was reading him again—he could tell. Her eyes had yet to leave his, searching for something, but he refused to give her anything. He looked back at Harper instead, ignoring the way Sevyn’s presence alone was shifting the air between them.

"I know you two haven’t officially met, but this is my cousin Hassan, Sev."

Harper’s introduction felt pointless—like they had already crossed an invisible line long before this moment.

Then it happened. Sevyn smiled.

And Hassan felt something deep in his chest clench involuntarily. Her smile shined even under the dim casino lights, warm, soft,effortless—like she hadn’t just spent weeks inside his head, throwing him off his game.

"It’s nice to officially meet you." Her voice was calm, smooth as silk, as she extended her hand toward him.

Hassan’s mind flickered back—to her office, to the way he had shown up unannounced, demanding answers, pushing her, seeing how far he could test her. To how he had her panties soaked just from his energy alone. The memory brought a dark smirk to his lips.

Finally, he took her hand. He hadn’t been prepared for the softness of her touch, the way it instantly relaxed him without him wanting it to.

They pulled away, but the tension didn’t leave with their hands. It remained, thick, charged, something unspoken between them that neither of them addressed.

Harper, standing between them, looked back and forth, feeling it. She had no proof, no physical evidence to say something was going on between them. But she felt it.

And it was charged as hell.

"Where yo other friend?" Hassan finally spoke up, noticing the missing piece of their trio.

"Roman ass snatched her up before we could even get through the door," Harper rolled her eyes, making Hassan shake his head.

"How you hosting a masquerade party and not even dressed for the occasion?" Harper joked, nudging him playfully.

Sevyn chuckled softly beside her, and that one sound caught his attention immediately.

Hassan’s eyes flickered to her, locking onto her smile—the kind that made something warm and unfamiliar stir in his chest.

Fuck.

He had to snap out of it. He couldn’t let Sevyn—or anyone—make him feel things he had never allowed himself to feel.

"I am dressed for the occasion. I’m steppin’." His tone was cool, serious as he adjusted the sleeve of his Dior suit like the shit was second nature.

Harper chuckled, even though Hassan didn’t crack a smile.

But he caught it—out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sevyn nod in silent approval, her gaze subtly dragging over him, taking him in from head to toe.

She was checking him out. And she wasn’t even trying to hide it.

"Where yo mask at, nigga?" Harper pressed, raising a brow at him. "I ain’t wearing no damn mask, cuh," Hassan replied dryly.

Harper shook her head, laughing under her breath. "Hood niggas."

Sevyn chuckled again, even though she kept her thoughts to herself.

Hassan felt that laugh settle somewhere deep, and he hated that shit.

"Well, we about to go enjoy this bougie-ass party. Please don’t kill nobody tonight." Harper’s tone was half-joking, half-serious, and Hassan only nodded, brushing off the comment like it meant nothing.

Harper walked away first, and for a split second, Sevyn lingered.

She didn’t say anything. Didn’t do anything. But she looked at him. Held his gaze for a second too long before finally turning and following Harper down the stairs.

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