Page 81 of King of Ruin

Amara laughed.

"My hairdresser," she repeated, as though it explained everything. "Half the billionaire wives in the city go to her salon. They sit in those chairs for three or four hours every appointment, and sooner or later someone starts talking."

She lifted one shoulder, her expression impossibly innocent.

"I just happen to tip well enough that she accidentally remembers to tell me everything afterward."

A laugh slipped from Xavier before he could stop it. It was quiet, brief, but genuine enough that all three of them immediately turned to look at him.

Juliet pointed at him triumphantly.

"There. You made Xavier laugh."

"I should write today's date down." Amara nodded solemnly. "It may never happen again."

Xavier pinched the bridge of his nose, the ghost of a smile still lingering on his face.

"I've spent years building a global business," he said, gesturing vaguely with the whiskey in his hand. "I've hired investigators, analysts, consultants..." He paused, giving a small shake of his head. "And somehow your hairdresser still has better intelligence than all of them."

Amara smiled sweetly, clearly accepting the compliment.

The group dissolved into laughter once more, and it was during that easy, familiar moment that Amara's gaze drifted back to Elise.

She had admired the younger woman when she'd first stepped onto the yacht, but standing this close only made her beauty more striking. The soft pink dress suited her perfectly, the delicate shimmer stretching from the corners of her eyes caught the lights dancing across the water, and every time she smiled, her entire face seemed to brighten with it.

Amara sighed dramatically.

"I still can't get over how pretty you are."

Elise blinked in surprise before letting out a shy laugh.

"What?"

"I'm serious." Amara looked genuinely exasperated. "You have the sweetest face I've ever seen."

Juliet nodded immediately.

"I've been thinking the same thing all evening."

Amara rested one elbow against the railing, smiling warmly at Elise. "You must have been the cutest little girl. I bet your parents couldn't stop fussing over you. They probably thought you were so adorable they wanted to keep you hidden from the rest of the world."

For a brief moment, Elise simply looked down at the champagne flute in her hands.

Her thumb slowly traced the cool crystal stem before she smiled again, softer this time.

"I don't think they did."

Neither woman noticed the change immediately.

Then Elise quietly added, "I was abandoned when I was eight."

The words weren't bitter.

If anything, they were spoken with remarkable peace.

"My adoptive parents found me and raised me, so..." She let out a small, self-deprecating laugh. "I don't think my biological parents found me nearly as adorable as you imagine."

Amara's entire expression crumpled.