Ruby’s POV
Locking the bedroom door behind me, I pulled the scrap piece of paper from the pages of the classic novel and stared at the neatly scribbled digits. My heart was still doing a frantic rhythm against my ribs from my near-miss with Alex in the study, but I forced my breathing to steady. I needed answers, and I needed them from the one man in Manhattan who treated high-society secrets like currency.
I punched the numbers into my phone, pressed dial, and brought the receiver to my ear.
It rang three times before a deep, smooth, and distinctly amused voice answered. "Well, hello there. I don't usually get calls from unlisted international numbers unless someone is trying to sell me a yacht or sue me. Who is this?"
"It's Ruby," I said, my voice crisp, calm, and completely gro
