Page 42 of Her Ruin

CHAPTER12

ZAYN

A week.

She’d been in my club for a week, moving through my space like she belonged here. Like she had control over the situation.

She didn’t. She never would.

I let her believe she had free rein, letting her set up meetings, walk the floor, and give orders to the vendors she’d brought in as they discussed how to arrange the tables, the bars, all the things that made me want to tell her she had it. How could one person talk about centerpieces for so long? But despite that, the reality was simple…she was contained.

And she knew it.

That was why she stood near the entrance to the lower level, hands on her hips, glaring at Rye as he faced her, arms crossed, a solid, immovable force.

“For God’s sake, Rye, if there is an easier way to get in here than all those stairs at the front, let me see it.” Her voice was laced with irritation. “Let me through.”

“Nah.” He was completely unbothered by her. “You know I won’t.”

I smirked from my position near the bar, watching the scene unfold. Isla had been pushing for the last few days—testing the boundaries I had set, lingering near places she shouldn’t, acting like she had more freedom than she did.

She didn’t like being controlled, and I enjoyed watching her realize how tight my control over her was.

Rye looked at me over her head, and I gave him a mock salute as I turned away from the bar, heading back to my office.

“Zayn!”

I contemplated ignoring her. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“Zayn McCabe, don’t youdarepretend you can’t hear me.”

“The whole building can hear you,” Rye grumbled, and it was for my friend’s sanity that I turned around.

I took my time approaching, letting her simmer in frustration before I came to stand beside her. “She giving you a hard time, Rye?” I asked him smoothly, ignoring the bristling ball of fury beside me.

Isla ignored the question and the answer, her warm hazel eyes flashing with irritation and something a little sharper. “Is there a more convenient entrance for my vendors to use to set up?” she demanded. “Can I see it?”

“No. And no.” She opened her mouth to speak, and I nodded towards the entrance Rye still stood protectively in front of. “What’s behind that door doesn’t concern you.”

Isla exhaled slowly, and I knew she was trying to calm down. Rye rubbed her the wrong way, and I just downright sent her over the line into crazy. “This entire floorconcernsme, Zayn. You agreed to this. You agreed to let me host the gala here. I need to see the logistics of how things run. If I can save time, then I will save time. So that includes access to?—”

“I said no.” I stepped closer to her.

She hated that. I could see it in how her jaw tensed and her fingers curled at her sides. She’d be a shit poker player.

“Event planning is like running an orchestra,” she told me, her jaw clenched. “It’s all about timings; if I can see how this club functions, I can see if I can save time,” she insisted. My face remained expressionless. “Zayn! It’s all timing!” She turned to Rye, surprising him as much as me that she looked at him for support. “Tell him!”

Rye’s flat look told mesomething, but it wasn’t what Isla wanted to hear.

I leaned in, dropping my voice so only she could hear. “The main floor is yours, the guests, the press, the polished faces of the wealthy raising money for animals that none of them care about, this is where they will be.” I moved closer, hearing her little gasp. “You know the rumors you pretend you don’t hear about me, Is?” My breath fanned her cheek. “Do you really want your guests exploring them?”

My hand trailed over the curve of her hip. Her breath hitched, barely, but I caught it. I didn’t hide my smirk.

She hated this game, but she was playing anyway.

With a slow step away from me, straightening her shoulders like nothing had happened, she glared at my hand and then up at me. “Fine.” Her voice was clipped. “If I can’t go downstairs, then I need full access to the backwithoutyour men watching me like guard dogs.”

She really was a pushy little thing. I let out a quiet laugh. “Isla, front door in, front door out. Main floor stay. Understood?” Reaching out, I clasped her chin, jerking her head up and down gently. “Nod if you understand, puppy.”

---