even as she tried to engage in polite conversation with the elite of the business world. She had hoped the event would be an opportunity for her to network a

night was dragging on, and she hadn't quite figured out how to leave without offending

ep voice said, sm

nd tailored, and his smile radiated confidence. He was undeniably handsome-chiseled jawline, perfectly tousled brown h

tonight.

man said, his smile widening as

ooth. The last thing she wanted was to spend the rest of the evening en

an she intended. She stepped around him, barel

sed disbelief as Ruby brushed past him without a second glance. He chuckled

that's

sity more than it wounded his ego. She was different. Most women, especially in this environment, would have jumped at the oppor

dressed guests until he reached the bar at the far end of the room. Leaning against it, Za

ou," Zane said, raising an

ink from the bartender. "She had

rk eyes glittering with amusement. "An

shoulder in the direction Ruby had gone. "She was different, though. Most women in t

t impressed by y

d, placing a hand over his

know, maybe she just wasn't interested in what you were sel

eyebrow. "You mean women who don't care ab

more distant, tho

s eyes seemed to follow the woman who had rejected him. Ruby, the same woma

l me she caught y

I don't know what it is. There's something about her. She doesn't belong her

raight: I try to talk to her, she blows me off, and now you're i

l following Ruby as she moved throu

know how this goes. You see someone intriguing, someone who doesn'

glance. "Don't make this

just saying... if she wasn't interested in me, good lu

ed to the effortless attention women lavished on him, drawn by his success, his po

r a moment, turning to the bartend

hesitated before responding. "I believe she's

e on his tongue like he was trying it

. "She didn't just reject you because you're a bad flirt,

eaning into this whole 'myster

ared to the usual women who crossed their paths. In this world of wealth and power, everyone had an a

know who we are," Zane muse

akes her even more in

his lips curving slightly. "I t

. We wouldn't want to scare her off too quickly. Y

glint of mischief in his dark eyes. "But w

ces. Zane and Alex had always been a team, navigating the world of high society with ease. The

ther it was the thrill of the chase, the allure of the unknown, or something deeper, neither of them could quite put

his eyes following Ruby's figure one la

the

g his glass against Z