Page 4 of Her Ruin

“No reason,” I lied quickly, then sighed as I opened my office door. Waving at Monica, I stepped into my office, where the cool tones of the walls greeted me. “Okay, maybe there’s a reason. Did you hear about the renovation on Hardgate?”

There was a pause, and I could almost picture Julian sitting in his office, running a hand through his perpetually messy hair. He was like that—never neat enough to look polished, and he wasn’t one for too much effort. He was probably in a button-down shirt, chinos, and loafers with his ever-present coffee mug in his hand.

“Yeah, I know about the club,” he finally said. “Why?”

“Monica at work mentioned it,” I explained. “Said it’s going to be the hottest spot in Gracemont or whatever. “

“And?” Julian asked, his tone somewhere between cautious and curious.

“Is it true?” I asked too quickly. “Is he involved?”

“I thought you hated Zayn?” His tone was casual. “Why are you so interested if he is?”

“Because I am aneventplanner! I could have a client that wants to have an event there, and I need to know the inside gossip so I look good. And…well, if it’s true and the asshat is involved…”

“Go on,” he encouraged.

“Zayn and I don’t exactly…”

“...get along?” Julian finished for me, his voice tinged with amusement.

“Exactly.”

There was another pause, and then Julian sighed. “Look, I don’t know what you want me to say. Zayn’s...Zayn. He’s done well for himself, and yeah, the rumors are true; it’s his, and the club’s legit. I’ve been there a couple of times since it’s been getting fitted out.”

That caught my attention. “You have?”

“Of course. He’s my friend,” Julian said simply as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I bit my lip, unsure how to put my thoughts into words. “I just?—”

“You just what?” Julian prompted gently.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “It’s just…it’shim, you know? The way he left in senior year at school, and there was that night with you and him when you were in college, and then the next thing we hear, he’s got this whole empire or whatever. It’s just...shady.He’sshady.”

“Or you’re biased, Isla,” Julian said. His tone was careful as if he knew I wasn’t ready to hear whatever point he was about to make. “Zayn’s a decent enough guy.”

I scoffed. “Zayn? Decent? I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Maybe you should,” Julian said lightly. “See it, I mean.”

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see me. “You’re not seriously suggesting I go to his club.”

“Why not? It might be good for you.”

“And what does that mean?” I shot back, narrowing my eyes at the phone like it could transmit my glare.

Julian laughed softly. “It means you’ve been working too hard, as usual. And maybe you need a night out. Somewhere that isn’t work-related.”

His words stung because they were true. Julian always had a way of gently but firmly cutting through my excuses.

I sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice again. “And Isla?”

“Yeah?”

“Isn’t going to his club why you called?”

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