Page 57 of King of Ruin

Elise calmly reached for her handbag, slipping the strap over her shoulder before smoothing the front of her blouse with one hand.

"Yes."

His eyes followed each of her movements.

The surprise faded almost as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by visible irritation.

Meanwhile, Elise remained perfectly composed.

She offered him a small, professional smile, the kind she had worn countless times during meetings.

"I hope you enjoy your lunch."

Without giving him another opportunity to object, she turned toward the door. The soft click of her heels echoed across the office as she walked away, her hand reaching for the handle without once looking back.

She could feel his gaze following her every step, heavy enough to burn between her shoulder blades, but she resisted the temptation to glance over her shoulder.

A moment later, the door clicked softly shut behind her.

Elise released a quiet breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Xavier's office suddenly felt far away, yet the weight of his gaze seemed to linger on her back as she walked across the executive floor. She adjusted the folder against her chest and let her eyes travel through the open workspace until they landed on Benjamin, who was standing near one of the assistants with a tablet tucked beneath his arm.

"Benjamin."

At the sound of her voice, he immediately excused himself and walked over.

"Yes, Ms. Foster?"

"Mr. Chen will still be going to the restaurant for lunch," she explained with her usual gentle smile. "Could you please drive him? Something came up, so I won't be joining him."

Benjamin looked momentarily surprised.

"Of course."

"Thank you."

Offering him another appreciative smile, Elise turned toward the elevators. The soft click of her heels echoed across the floor as she walked, and moments later the elevator doors slid open. She stepped inside, pressed the button for the lobby, and watched the executive floor disappear behind the closing doors.

By the time she stepped out of the Chen Group headquarters, the warm Manhattan afternoon had settled over the city. Streams of office workers flowed along the sidewalks, taxis rolled steadily through the busy streets, and conversations blended with thedistant chorus of honking horns. The familiar energy of the city wrapped around her, bustling and alive.

She paused just outside the revolving glass doors and glanced up and down the street.

There was no sign of Logan.

A tiny crease formed between her brows.

With a small sigh, she reached into her handbag and pulled out her phone. Her thumb found Logan's name almost automatically, and she lowered her gaze to the glowing screen as she tapped the call button.

The phone had barely begun to ring.

Without warning, two arms slipped securely around her arms from behind.

The sudden embrace pulled her gently backward against a firm chest, and before she could react, warm breath brushed the side of her neck.

"Elise!"

The cheerful voice burst with so much excitement that it instantly cut through the noise of the street.

Elise gasped softly, her entire body going rigid as surprise shot through her. Her fingers tightened instinctively around her phone, her heart stumbling before she quickly realized who it was.