Page 68 of King of Ruin

"I did."

The two simple words hung in the air between them.

She lowered her eyes for a moment before placing the documents back onto the desk with deliberate care, buying herself a few seconds to think.

"He's... someone I know."

Xavier's brows drew together almost imperceptibly.

"Someone you know," he repeated, tasting the vague answer with obvious dissatisfaction.

She nodded gently.

"Yes."

Silence settled over the office.

It wasn't the answer that bothered him.

It was everything she hadn't said.

He took a slow step toward her until only the desk separated them.

"And does this 'someone' have a name?"

"Logan."

"And who is Logan?"

Elise hesitated.

Her fingers unconsciously smoothed the edge of the contract she'd been holding before she answered quietly, "Just... someone I know."

The same answer.

The same careful avoidance.

Xavier held her gaze for several long seconds, searching her face for something she wasn't saying.

A friend? A colleague? A boyfriend?

Every possibility that crossed his mind tightened the knot in his chest all over again.

His jaw flexed once before he looked away, forcing himself to remain outwardly composed even as irritation and jealousy continued to churn beneath the surface.

***

The moment Xavier and Elise stepped onto the sprawling luxury yacht, they were greeted by the lively hum of an elite business party already in full swing.

Music drifted across the open deck while the ocean breeze carried the scent of saltwater and expensive perfume. Crystal chandeliers suspended beneath the upper canopy bathed the yacht in warm golden light, reflecting off polished teak floors and rows of champagne glasses. Everywhere Elise looked, groups of billionaires, CEOs, investors, and prominent business figures stood chatting with effortless confidence, their laughter blending with the gentle sound of waves lapping against the hull.

For a brief moment, she couldn't help but admire the breathtaking setting.

Tonight, she had dressed for the occasion.

She wore a baby pink dress that hugged her figure like a second skin, the silky fabric accentuating every graceful curve before ending high above her knees. The color softened her delicate features, while the shimmer of her makeup caught the light each time she turned her head. Long streaks of glittering pink eyeliner swept elegantly toward her temples, making her bright eyes appear even more captivating. Her glossy pink lips curved into a polite smile as her long dark hair cascaded freely down her back in soft waves, dancing gently in the evening breeze.

She looked effortlessly beautiful.