Page 20 of King of Ruin

Lucius remained silent, his calm gaze shifting toward the closed door, while Xavier said nothing at all.

One hand rested in the pocket of his tailored trousers as he stood beside the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the glittering lights of Manhattan. His expression remained unreadable, though the slight tightening of his jaw betrayed exactly how little he appreciated being dragged into whatever game his friends were playing.

Outside, the attendant led Cassian and Maverick through the dimly lit VIP corridor before stopping near the private entrance.

Elise was already waiting.

She was still wearing her soft ivory nightdress, a thin robe carelessly wrapped around her shoulders as though she'd dressed in a hurry. Her long dark hair tumbled over her back in soft layers, wispy strands framing her delicate face and falling near her eyes. She looked gentle, almost fragile at first glance, yet there was a quiet confidence in the way she stood despite her hurried breathing.

The instant she saw them, she hurried forward.

"Are you both Xavier’s friends? What happened?" she asked, unable to hide the anxiety in her voice. Her eyes instinctively searched behind them before confusion flickered across her face. "Where's Xavier? Is he alright?"

Cassian exchanged a subtle glance with Maverick before his usual smile disappeared. His features settled into a grave expression so convincing that even someone who knew him well would've believed every word he was about to say.

"There was an accident."

His voice was calm and measured.

"A server made a mistake while bringing over the drinks. Xavier lost his temper..." He paused just long enough to watch the color slowly drain from Elise's face. "...He smashed his whiskey glass. It wasn't intentional, but one of the shards struck the server."

Maverick quietly took over without missing a beat.

"The ambulance has already taken the man to the hospital." His voice remained steady, his expression unreadable. "The doctors are trying to save him."

A heavy silence settled between them.

"If the worst happens..." Maverick continued, holding Elise's gaze. "...Xavier could be facing criminal charges."

Elise stood motionless, her fingers slowly tightening around the belt of the robe wrapped over her nightdress as she absorbed what Cassian and Maverick had just told her.

Maverick watched her in silence for a long moment before taking another step forward. His sharp gaze never left her face, reading every subtle change in her expression with the same precision he used across a negotiating table.

"If this becomes a criminal matter," he said at last, his deep voice calm enough to make the question even more unsettling, "would you take the blame for him?"

The question had barely left his mouth before Elise answered.

"Yes."

There wasn't the slightest pause.

She didn't ask why.

She didn't ask what would happen to her.

She simply looked at the two men in front of her and said with complete sincerity, "I'll tell the police it was my fault. I'll say I was the one who broke the glass." She lowered her eyes briefly before continuing in the same soft voice.

"Xavier has an entire corporation depending on him. Thousands of employees rely on him every day. If something happened to him..." She gently shook her head, as though the answer had always been obvious. "I'll take responsibility."

For the first time that evening, both men were left speechless.

Cassian slowly exhaled, the easy smile that rarely left his face disappearing altogether, while Maverick simply stared at her.

He had expected hesitation. Questions. Panic.

Anything.

What he hadn't expected was for her to say yes without a single moment's hesitation. She hadn't even taken a second to consider what taking the blame would mean for her.