Page 39 of Ruin

Why?

Because you’ll be able to gauge his

mood. If he drinks and eats, he’s

comfortable and you have nothing

to worry about. If he doesn’t touch

anything, you’ve got work to do.

She’s brilliant.

Before I can think better of it, I text:

How fast can you get here?

The bubbles appear and disappear once, twice, three times as I make my way to the table, telling a waitress to bring a charcuterie board.

I’m at Lexi’s already. Her swim

party, remember?

Fuck. I don’t like her hanging out with Lexi. And if Tony’s there and says a God damn thing to her, I’m going to fucking destroy him.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts as I take a seat at the table and stare out the window. The waitress brings the charcuterie board, and I nod, barely paying attention.

“Would you like some wine to go with it, sir?” she asks tentatively.

Giovanna said to have wine out as well so I nod curtly.

“Um, what kind, sir?”

I stare at her blankly. “Hold on.”

What kind of wine should I order?

A 1990 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo

Brunate Riserva. It’s classic,

everyone likes it and if he knows

anything about wine, he’ll know

it’s a great year and expensive.

I can’t help but smile. She’s amazing. I react to her text with a thumbs up and order the wine. It’s breathing on the table next to two glasses when the dean arrives.

I can’t get a read on Dean Staunton as he enters the building, but as soon as he hits the doorway and sees the empty restaurant, he sets his jaw and hikes his shoulders, stalking toward me.

I stand and button my jacket, then hold my hand out to him. “Good to see you, Dean Staunton. Please, have a seat.”

He refuses both my hand and the offer of the seat. “No, thank you. I can’t stay. This will be brief.”

The way this guy glares at me makes me want to snatch him by the throat and throw him against the wall. Instead, Inarrow my eyes at him and continue to stand there holding out my hand. Seconds pass in silence, and the look in his eyes changes slowly from irritation to discomfort.

Clearing his throat, he glances out the window instead of looking at me as he begrudgingly shakes my hand with two quick pumps then releases me, wiping his palm on his suit jacket.