Page 191 of King of Ruin

"I was just going home," he replied. "Let's do it another day."

"No, not another day," Amara said immediately, cutting him off. "We've already planned this, and we're already here. So get in your damn car and come right now. We'll be outside waiting for you."

Xavier closed his eyes for a brief moment before rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"All right," he said with a sigh. "I'm coming. But I'm not staying for long."

Without waiting for her reply, he ended the call.

He stood there for several seconds, staring at the black screen of his phone.

Then his thumb moved almost on instinct.

He scrolled down to Elise's name and pressed call.

The phone rang.

No answer.

His jaw tightened.

He dialed again.

Still nothing.

A third time.

Silence.

By the fourth call, she finally answered.

"Xavier," she said in exasperation, "can you stop calling me?"

"Come to dinner with me," he said immediately, before she had the chance to refuse.

"I'm not coming today," Elise answered. "I have something to do."

Xavier frowned as he walked toward the elevator, his pace slowing. "What is there to do?"

"I have something to do," she repeated.

"What is it?" he asked again, refusing to let it go. "I'll come with you."

"No. You're not coming with me."

Her answer came so quickly that it made him pause. Before he could say another word, she let out a frustrated sigh and said, "Don't you think you've become way too clingy?"

One of Xavier's eyebrows lifted. There wasn't even a hint of embarrassment on his face as he looked ahead and answered matter-of-factly, "...When was I not clingy?"

Elise fell silent for a brief moment, caught off guard by the shamelessness of his answer. Finally, she sighed. "All right, but I'm still not coming today. And you should tell them that we have broken up so they don't misunderstand and think we're still together."

Before Xavier could respond, the call ended.

He lowered the phone from his ear and stared at the screen for several long seconds, a look of disappointment flashing across his face despite his attempt to suppress it. He let out a quietscoff, slipped the phone back into his pocket, and stepped into the elevator as the doors slid shut in front of him.

Benjamin drove him toward Florence Restaurant, but Xavier remained unusually quiet throughout the drive. Leaning back against the seat, he rested his elbow on the window and absentmindedly turned his head toward the seat beside him.

It was empty.