Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 59

Julius didn't actually have a smoking habit. He was just genuinely annoyed at being stood up tonight. But the second he laid eyes on her, all his irritation vanished into thin air.

"Don't call me that. Smoke if you want, you don't need my permission."

It was actually her first time seeing him with a cigarette. He had never touched one back at the Manor.

"What's wrong with calling you my wife? You are my wife, aren't you? Of course I need your permission to smoke. What if you complain about the smell and kick me out of bed?"

"And if I tell you no? Are you actually going to stop?"

Julius casually crushed the cigarette into a nearby ashtray. "If my wife says no, then of course I stop. Come on, I'll introduce you to my friends."

Stella stood her ground. "Tell me where you guys are, and I'll drop by in a bit. My friend is still waiting for me inside. I need to go let him know."

"Not going to introduce me to your friend?"

"He's terrible in social situations. Talks to a stranger and instantly starts stuttering. Best not to traumatize him."

Stutters when nervous, yet hangs out at a crowded bar?

Who was she trying to fool?

Still, if Stella didn't want him meeting her friend, he wasn't going to push it. He'd wait until she brought him around willingly.

"Fine. I'll be in room 301. Don't take too long. All my friends brought dates, and I'm the only guy flying solo. They've been giving me hell for it all night. You need to come rescue my reputation."

"Just go away. I'll be there in a minute."

Julius reached out, gave her head an affectionate pat, and strolled off.

Stella felt like she'd just been pet like a golden retriever. She glared daggers at his retreating back, half-hoping her eyes would burn a hole right through his jacket.

Carter thought for a second, then slapped his forehead. "It had to be that woman who told you to go to the terrace!"

Stella raised an eyebrow. "Explain."

"As soon as you walked away, she stayed right here and literally threw herself over the table, blocking my line of sight. Started begging me to buy her a drink.

Her dress was practically non-existent, and honestly, I wasn't in the mood to look at her assets, so I closed my eyes. She absolutely had an accomplice. They swapped your drink while I was blinded."

Listening to Carter's breakdown, Stella replayed her brief interaction with Julius on the terrace.

It seemed Julius really hadn't been stalking her. He was genuinely just out with friends and happened to step outside.

She was a hundred percent certain she didn't know the woman who lured her out. So who sent her? And what were they trying to accomplish?