Page 47 of Her Ruin

“When are you returning to the hotel? You have commitments to finish here.”

I stopped myself from tearing him a new one. Again. Because he was right. Though he had done everything possible to sabotage his own hotel’s reopening, he was still a client.

“I’m aware of my clients’ needs,” I told him before I could stop myself. “When they let me.”

I heard Gerard sigh. “Isla, it’s my hotel, my right to do what I want,” he said, and he almost sounded petulant. “But…” He let out a huge sigh. “The project foreman is really getting quite cumbersome to work with, and he said yesterday he wasn’t coming back until you were.”

Go, Pete.

“You put me in a very difficult position.” My voice was cold, and I nodded to one of the hired staff when they held up a champagne flute and pointed to the table. “I was managing The Grand’s renovations for weeks, Gerard.Weeks. I had it all within my control, delays, budget increases, and every tiny thing that threatened the gala being held there. Only to lose it all because ofyouand your recklessness.” I saw a few curious stares, and I turned my back on the event staff and walked to a quieter corner.

“Isla…”

“I gave you all the information you needed to complete the work,” I replied evenly. Mentally, I ran through the list, knowing where they should be by now. “Your delivery of brocade curtains should have come yesterday. Did it?”

Gerard sighed loudly. “Yes, but there are still things?—”

“What things? I left you very detailed notes.Verydetailed,” I added on sharply. “You made it quite clear you didn’t want to work with me on this project.”

Silence.

When Gerard spoke again, he sounded less sullen and more like the businessman he should have been about a month ago. “My contract is with you, and yours with this hotel is still intact.” He cleared his throat. “Lyndsay Shaw is not the only one Gracemont elite listen to, Isla. Do you really want rumors? Or shall I see you back here tomorrow?”

I pulled the phone from my ear and looked at it in disbelief. “You’rethreateningme?”

Gerard sighed, sounding exhausted. “No,my dear girl, I am reminding you that I am your client,and as such,I expect a service, Isla. You came to me with your plan for The Grand. I am just reminding you that I trustyouto fulfill it.”

I licked my teeth. I really wanted to tell him to go to hell. I thought Ihadtold him that, but he was right. This was not how I treated my clients.

“I have the charity gala all day, and tomorrow’s cleanup,” I told him curtly. “This event is no longer your concern, but I’ll see you Monday morning to discuss the reopening of The Grand. “

There was a beat of silence.

“Understood,” he said, clipped and unhappily.

I exhaled as I ended the call, shoving my phone back into my pocket before I was tempted to throw it across the damn room.

With a sigh, I returned to the event Ididhave control over, and soon, I was able to push The Grand to the back of my mind.

It was almost lunchtime when I was mid-checklist, finalizing seating plans as sent by Lyndsay, when my phone buzzed again.

Unknown number.

I hesitated. I knew deep down who this was even though I already had his number, but the puzzle didn’t stop me from answering.

“Isla Wells.”

A low chuckle hummed through the speaker. “You sound tense, little Isla.”

My stomach flipped at the sound of Zayn’s voice, but I also knew I didn’t have time for this. “What do you want? I’m busy.”

“Too busy for me?” he mocked. “I’m hurt.”

I looked up at the camera and rolled my eyes, but I dipped my head, feeling the warmth creeping over my cheeks, betraying my reaction to him. “Is there a reason you’re calling?”

His voice was as smooth as ever. “Just checking in.”

“Checking in?”

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