Page 45 of Angels Are Falling

“Good morning,” Matt added while Marcus settled for a wave, cautiously eyeing the breakfast spread. He was the only person who seemed cognizant of the tension emanating from me.

“Morning,” I replied warily, my eyes fixed on the pretty woman.

“So, you’re the famous Amelie,” the stranger chirped. “Stefan has told me so much about you.”

I didn’t respond, inwardly fuming. Stefan better have a good explanation for staying out all night, standing me up, and walking in with a beautiful stranger, though something about her was oddly familiar. It wasn’t until she drew closer that I realized why.

No fucking way.

She extended her hand for a handshake. “It’s so nice to meet you, Amelie. I am⁠—”

“Ruby Sarafina, I know.” I spoke without awe, my furrowed brow giving away my displeasure.

The men exchanged looks when I didn’t shake her hand.

Stefan stepped in as Ruby awkwardly lowered her hand. “Amelie’s in shock,” he explained with an uneasy chuckle. “It’s not every day you meet a rock star. Amelie, you won’t believe the night we had. Kai asked Ruby to meet me at the club to discuss a project for the magazine. I almost had a heart attack when I saw her.”

I was shocked, too. “I didn’t realize clubs were so well-known for work. That must be why you had to stay out all night.”

Stefan had the good sense to look guilty. “I’m sorry about missing breakfast⁠—”

“Blame me,” Ruby interjected. “I was starving and insisted on going to a twenty-four-hour diner after the club.”

I stared at Stefan. “You already ate? Then why did you make plans with me?”

Stefan brushed the back of his head with a hand, looking ashamed.

“Don’t be angry with him. It was my fault for keeping him out all night,” Ruby added, though it seemed to give her immense pleasure to inform me that my husband was out with her all night.

Was she serious?

Marcus, who seemed the most mature of the group, noticed my irate expression and tried to placate me. He must’ve put two and two together after seeing the table full of untouched food. “Sorry, we lost track of time, Amelie. Stefan freaked out when he realized he was late to breakfast.”

Matt chuckled, turning to Stefan. “Wait? Breakfast with your wife was the big emergency?”

Stefan appeared slightly embarrassed by Matt’s comment.

“You almost got us into a car accident because you were late to meet your wife?” Will asked, stunned.

Stefan seemed further mortified by their jabs and didn’t respond. I get that missing breakfast wasn’t a big deal, but we hadn’t had a proper conversation since my remarriage to a megalomaniac. We were trying to rekindle our romance from the recent setbacks, or at least, that was my understanding.

“We were celebrating some good news and lost track of time,” Ruby added. “Don’t take it personally, love.”

“Excuse us. I’d like to have a word with my husband.” I emphasized the word my for good measure.

Ruby’s plastic smile slightly faltered. The awkwardness festered, and she and the guys were suddenly very interested in breakfast. Stefan told them to help themselves, though they had already eaten.

He grabbed my elbow and pulled me aside. “Was that necessary?” His voice was low, irritation bleeding through despite his effort to contain it. “I get that you’re mad at me, but there’s no need to take it out on Ruby. She just risked her life to drive me home.”

“I didn’t realize driving a car was a life-threatening activity. And I’m not in the wrong here, Stefan. I should be able to talk to my husband without another woman interrupting us.”

“She was just trying to be nice and smooth things over between us.”

Yeah, right.

In high school, during my pre-Stefan era, I had a friend who competed with me for my ex-boyfriend’s attention. Once, she asked for my ex’s opinion on which dress to wear to homecoming. I watched, gobsmacked, as she showed my boyfriend pictures of herself in provocative outfits, pretending she was only interested in his platonic opinion. She was fishing for a compliment, which he readily gave. After that, she never let me forget that my boyfriend found her attractive.

Chris said I looked hot in the red dress.