Page 73 of King of Ruin

The instant Xavier disappeared into the crowd of executives, the brunette Juliet had pointed out earlier made her way toward them.

Her crimson dress flowed around her legs as she crossed the deck, the evening breeze lifting a few loose strands of chestnut hair away from her face. A warm smile spread across her lips the moment her eyes met Elise's.

"I'm Amara."

She stopped beside Juliet and offered her hand.

"You must be Elise."

Elise returned the smile, shaking her hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too."

Before either of them could say anything else, Juliet let out an impatient sigh and slipped between them, looping one armthrough Amara's while waving her champagne glass with the other.

"Oh, enough introductions." She looked around dramatically before lowering her voice. "I have something much more important to tell you."

Amara laughed.

"I knew it. You've been holding it in ever since you walked over."

Juliet grinned without the slightest bit of shame.

"You remember Devin?"

"The one who divorced earlier this year?" Amara asked.

Juliet nodded so enthusiastically her earrings swayed.

"Everyone thinks he only started seeing that blonde model after the divorce." She subtly tipped her glass toward the woman standing across the deck beside Devin. "Turns out they've been dating since long before he left his wife."

Elise's eyes instinctively followed Juliet's gesture.

Across the deck, the elegant blonde laughed at something Devin said before slipping her hand through his arm as though they belonged together.

"They were together before the divorce?" Amara asked, her brows rising.

Juliet leaned in another inch, unable to hide how delighted she was by the revelation.

"Months before."

She paused just long enough to enjoy Amara's expression.

"And apparently his wife never found out."

"How do you even know that?" Amara asked, turning toward Juliet with a curious expression.

She tilted her head slightly, her fingers wrapped around the stem of her champagne glass as she studied her friend. There was no suspicion in her voice, only amusement because she already knew Juliet rarely had information without a story attached to it.

Juliet's lips curved into a knowing grin.

The kind of grin that immediately told Amara she was about to hear something she probably shouldn't.

She leaned a little closer, lowering her voice as the crowd moved around them.

"You remember Edwin?"

Amara's expression changed instantly.