Page 196 of King of Ruin

"Xavier, what are you doing?" she demanded, looking at him in disbelief. "It's so late at night, and you're drunk. You shouldn't even be lifting me. You're going to fall."

She tried to wiggle herself free, but his hold only tightened as he looked completely determined, ignoring every complaint she made.

Before she could say anything else, the elevator doors opened.

Xavier stepped out with her still in his arms and carried her across the lobby, ignoring the curious glances from the staff and security. He walked straight through the entrance of the apartment building and into the night.

Elise's protests slowly faded when she noticed the vehicles waiting outside.

Several cars were parked along the curb.

Before she could ask what was happening, Xavier carried her toward a waiting limousine. The door was already open, and he stopped in front of it before carefully lowering her back onto her feet.

Then, without letting go of her hand, he guided her forward and opened the limo door.

Elise gasped.

The entire inside of the limousine had been transformed.

Flowers filled every corner.

There were dozens of bouquets arranged throughout the luxurious interior, each one different from the other—roses, lilies, and countless other flowers filling the space with color and fragrance.

For a moment, she could only stand there, staring.

Before Elise could even catch her breath, Xavier stepped closer.

Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he leaned down and pressed a kiss against her cheek.

Elise froze.

She turned her head toward him, staring at him in complete surprise.

"This limousine is yours from now on," he said, his voice carrying the same drunken certainty he had shown all night. "I'll bring flowers for you every day from now on. You can use this to go to work."

He glanced toward the car before looking back at her.

"And if you want another car, I'll get you another one. If you want a different color, a different model, anything... I'll buy it."

Elise could only stare at him.

Her gaze slowly moved back toward the limousine.

The inside was unlike anything she had ever seen. The entire space had been transformed into something almost unreal. Luxurious seats, elegant decorations, and flowers filling every corner until it looked less like a vehicle and more like a private garden on wheels. There were even small arrangements placed carefully throughout the interior, making it impossible to look anywhere without seeing another bouquet.

For a moment, she forgot what she was supposed to say.

Her heart skipped slightly as she turned back toward him, disbelief written all over her face.

"What is going on?" she asked.

Her voice came out barely above a whisper, because she genuinely couldn't understand what was happening.

But Xavier didn't give her time to process it.

His eyes moved from her stunned expression to the limousine and then back to her again, as if he had decided something else.

Before she could question him, he bent down and lifted her into his arms again.