Page 28 of Her Ruin

“I did.” Zayn waited.

“You work fast, Isla?” Why was I being so defensive? This wasn’t why I was here.

“A compliment.” Zayn leaned back in his seat, crossing his left ankle over his right knee in the effortless way men did. One hand rested on his knee, the other on the armrest of the chair. His black pants and black shirt were immaculate. There wasn’t a crease to be seen.

“You’ve never complimented me in your life.”

Laughter danced in his eyes. “First time for everything.”

“Don’t make a habit of it,” I snapped.

“Why are you here?” he asked, that smirk still hovering over his lips, and I felt like a fool.

“You know?” Leaning forward, I watched him closely. “Is it your doing?”

His head tilted slightly to the left as he watched me. “I am many things, Isla, but clairvoyant isn’t one of them. You need to tell me more before I can pin down exactly what it is that I am supposed toknowor have done.”

“Ugh, let’s just get to the point.”

Zayn’s face was a calm mask. “By all means.”

The words stuck in my throat, and I felt a bead of sweat trail down between my shoulder blades. I exhaled slowly, breaking eye contact and looking around his office. It was neutral, clean, and totally unexpected. The tempered glass that overlooked the club was impressive. “You have a nice office.”

“You sound surprised.”

I turned back to him, my eyes catching on the wall of screens. “White isn’t the color I associate with you.” He didn’t comment, but I saw the flicker of amusement once more. “I’m helping with the renovation at The Grand.” I hesitated. “But you know that? Right?” At his slight nod, I continued. “The project is over budget.” It pissed me off to say it out loud. I was an event planner, and coming inunderbudget was my specialty. “There’s been a few delays, and it’s putting me behind schedule, and if I don’t put this back on track, my first few events will not happen the way they need to.”

His expression didn’t change. “And?”

I wet my lips, my mouth suddenly dry. “And…I need to know if you have any contacts that could deliver what I need quicker.”

He watched me for a few moments. “From the sounds of it, what you need is an alternative venue.”

I shook my head quickly. “No. It will happen at The Grand, but I need…I need contractors. I called alternatives. They’re all telling me they can’t do it on a shorter timeframe.” I glanced away from him, my focus back on the lifeless screens. “You know people.”

“I know a lot of people, Is,” he confirmed. “But if suppliers tell me they can’t supply, then I know they can’t supply.” I watched his long fingers as they lay unmoving on the armrest. He’d sat down, crossed his legs, and not moved. Completely still. I hadn’t sat still at all. Fidgeting constantly. His unnatural stillness was nerving.

“You won’t help me?”

“You’re a competitor.” Zayn’s tone was blunt. “I’m a competitive man. Why would I help a competitor? It’s not good business.”

“Are you the reason I have a supply problem?” I asked softly, surprising myself that I asked that out loud.

CHAPTER9

ISLA

Zayn smiled.An actual smile. It lacked warmth. “You’ve accused me of that already. Don’t make the mistake of doing it again.” He held my stare for a long moment before letting out an amused chuckle. “You never fail to surprise me, Is.” He sounded casual, but his eyes were hard. “Let me get this straight. You’ve spent weeks trying to maneuver against me, being very bold and transparent about your intentions for The Grand, aiming to compete against me, and now...now you want my help because you fucked up?”

“I’d owe you.”

His look turned mocking. “Youoweme already, Isla, the tab is long overdue.”

I refused to reply to that. “It’s business.”

“I agree. It’smybusiness. Your project is in direct competition with Elixir.” He looked me over. “And I don’t oweyouanything, Isla.”

The way he said my name sent something hot through my chest—anger, most likely, irritation, and something else I didn’t want to name.

---