Page 156 of King of Envy

“They are, aren’t they?” She sipped her drink. “Damn, I have good taste.”

We collapsed into giggles. I’d grown closer to her over the course of six weeks than I had with people I’d known for six years. Friendship wasn’t always about history; when two people clicked, they clicked. End of story.

The emerald-and-diamond earrings she’d lent mewerestunning, though. I’d leaned into the sin of Envy for the night, choosing an emerald satin gown with a slit up the thigh and the most exquisite gold heels. The earrings matched beautifully.

Maya was about to say something else when her laughter died. She stared past me, her eyes narrowing. I didn’t have to turn to guess which guest inspired such immediate contempt.

“Sebastian.” Her voice dripped with ice.

The French billionaire joined us, looking as handsome and perfectly tousled as ever. “Maya.” A smirk accompanied his smooth drawl. “Surprised to see you had time to plan a birthday party this year. Don’t you have a marketing department to run to the ground?”

“We’ve increased our profit margins by thirty percent this past quarter. What have you done?” Maya arched a well-groomed brow. “Open the same type of boring, soulless restaurant you always do and irritate everyone you work with in the process?”

“Those ‘boring, soulless’ restaurants have earned more Michelin stars than there are hits in your latest product line, so I understand why you’d be bitter.” Sebastian glanced around the party. “Seven Deadly Sins. Cute.”

“You—”

“Ayana, good to see you.” He interrupted her reply and faced me. “You look lovely.” He sounded sincere.

“Thank you,” I said, torn between good manners and loyalty to my friend. I settled somewhere in between. “Which sin are you?”

Most of the guests chose to dress up as one of the seven sins. Sebastian wore a white shirt, charcoal pants, and suspenders. The top button of his shirt was undone, adding to his rakish appeal. He and Kai Young were the only people I’d ever seen successfully pull off suspenders in real life.

“None. I’m sinless.” His mischievous smile sharpened when he faced Maya again. “I’m not a big fan of party themes, unfortunately. They’re a little tacky, but if anyone can make a brave attempt at classing them up, it’s you, Sal.” He raised his glass in a mock toast, his eyes sliding past Maya toward someone at the bar. “Ah, I spot Kai. Perfect timing. We need to discuss my next cover story forGourmand.Have fun. Oh, and happy birthday.”

He walked away, leaving a steaming Maya in his wake. I swore I saw smoke pouring out of her ears.

“Breathe.” I placed my hands on her shoulders. “You cannot murder a guest at your own birthday party.”

“That’s what you think,” she growled. “I should’ve chosen a Murder Mystery theme and usedhimas the dead body. Bonus points for realism when I stab him with a butcher’s knife. See if he finds themes tacky then.”

“Okay. Enough champagne for you. We don’t need alcohol fueling your violent fantasies.” I eased the delicate flute out of her hand and placed it on a nearby table. “What was that about anyway? Why did he call you Sal?”

I’d interacted with Sebastian briefly on several occasions. He’d always been charming and gracious, which was why it was a shock to see him and Maya snipe at each other. It was like they turned into different people when the other was near.

“Nothing. He was just being a competitive asshole.” A scowl fell over her pretty features. “He’s been that way since we were teenagers.”

“Were you classmates?

“Yes. We went to the same boarding school in Switzerland.”

Of course they had.

“Sal is short for salutatorian.” Maya’s scowl deepened. “I got food poisoning right before my chem final and was wrecked the entire time. I could barely concentrate. I ended up getting an eighty-nine, which dragged down my whole average. That little weasel beat me to the valedictorian spot by a quarter of a grade point, and he never let me forget it.”

“Ah.” Thirteen years seemed like a long time to hold a grudge, but I supposed I would be upset too if someone was constantly rubbing my failure in my face. Being salutatorian wasn’t a failure, but in Maya’s eyes, it was.

“The only reason I invited him is because I wanted him to see all this firsthand. Don’t let him fool you. He’s just bitter he didn’t think of this party theme first,” Maya said. “His last bash was a blowout in Monaco. Likethat’soriginal.”

“Not original at all,” I said loyally.

“Exactly.” She sighed. “Sorry to dump all this on you. You’re supposed to be having fun, not listening to me whine.”

“I don’t mind.” It was pretty amusing, though I’d never tell her that. In my experience, people who were that riled up about each other either ended up killing each other or falling in love. I had my suspicions about which category Maya and Sebastian belonged to, but I valued my life too much to voice them out loud.

“Thanks.” Maya’s face softened into a smile. “I have to make the rounds again or my parents will complain I’m being a ‘bad hostess.’ Let’s catch up later?”

“Sounds good.”

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