Page 64 of Ruin Me With Lies

Guilt, maybe.Or betrayal.Either way, it’s there.Flickering just beneath the surface.

The more I observe her, the more certain I become.

Almost two mind-numbing hours later, the meeting finally wraps, and my stomach is throwing an all-out rebellion.Two hours of watching these ego-trippers eat like royalty while I wasn’t even offered a mint.

Torture.Pure torture.

But I guess this is Stefano’s idea of a punishment.Petty, elegant revenge in the form of hunger.

Even so, suspicious behaviors didn’t go unnoticed by me.

While the others clear out with inflated self-importance like they’re off to rule the world, Lucy lingers.Her gaze lands on me, expectant and cold, as if she wants to order me to leave, but isn’t quite sure if she can.

I save her the torture.“I’ll give you two a moment.”

“Appreciated,” she replies with a polite nod, but her eyes are already on Stefano.

“There’s another meeting we need to get to,” Stefano says, straightening from his chair.“We can talk another time.”

Lucy is quick to close the gap between them, a hand slipping onto his shoulder with familiar intimacy.“What I wanted to discuss is… personal.”Her voice dips, sultry and suggestive.“Potential weekend plans…”

Subtle, she is not.

They’re positioned squarely between me and the door now, effectively blocking my path.

Stefano’s smile is pure diplomacy.“Another time, Lucy.As you might’ve heard, I’ve got a fair bit of insubordinates to subjugate these days.”

“Well,Ihave to go to the ladies’ room,” I announce, stepping toward them with pointed intent.“Surely you can spare the beautiful lady a few minutes of your time.”

Stefano’s gaze cuts to me, brow arching in faint amusement.Or suspicion.

I meet it with a meek, submissive smile I’ve never worn before and will never wear again, hoping to get across to him that Ineedthose minutes.

Lorenzo would’ve picked up the cue instantly.We have that kind of work chemistry down now.But Stefano is far too distrustful of me for nuance.

Still, something in him shifts.Maybe curiosity.Maybe calculation.Maybe he’s giving me the benefit of the doubt.Either way, he nods and turns his attention back to Lucy, touching her at the waist to shift her out of the way.

I slip from the room and make my way toward the back of the building, pushing through the swinging doors into the kitchen.The staff pauses, startled by my sudden intrusion, but I’m already scanning.

My eyes land on her.

The plump brunette with the name tag:Kimone.One of the servers who brought the meals earlier.

She spots me and stiffens.Her face drains of color as I approach, already shaking her head, backing away.

But on an empty stomach, my patience is nonexistent.I grab her wrist, twist her arm behind her back just enough to make her compliant.

“Easy,” I whisper, low and sharp, guiding her quickly across the room.

She lets out a yelp, a sob, startling the kitchen staff.

In the corner, I spot a sliding door.I shove her through it and close us inside.

A pantry.

“Please,” she gasps through tears the moment I let her go.“Please, don’t let them kill me.”

Keeping my tone low and steady, I ask, “What were you told to do?”