Elara's POV
"That woman is a menace," Marcus Cole muttered, his eyes fixed on Vivienne across the exhibition hall. The bitterness in his voice surprised me.
Julian raised an eyebrow. "You seem to have more than professional grievances with her."
Cole's jaw tightened. "My friend Stella Smith was engaged to Richard Hayes three years ago. Vivienne decided she wanted him, and within two months, Stella's engagement was broken."
I wasn't surprised. "That sounds like Vivienne."
"Stella caught them together at a charity gala," Cole continued, his voice dropping. "When confronted, Vivienne claimed Richard had been pursuing her for months, made Stella look like the desperate, clingy ex."
Julian frowned. "Is that why Stella isn't here today? I thought her company was showcasing their new software."