Chapter 67

MAXWELL'S POV

The Gilded Rose wasn’t my usual choice for meetings. It was a place where people came to be seen, to flaunt their status and connections, not to have serious conversations. But Keiran had insisted.

He said this woman, Clarissa, had information on Arthur, and I was willing to listen to anything that might give me an edge. Now, as I stepped through the heavy oak doors and into the dimly lit interior, I regretted agreeing to this whole thing.

A hostess in a black dress greeted me and guided me to a secluded corner. Clarissa was already there, sipping on a glass of wine, her expression calm but her eyes sharp as they watched me approach.

She was striking, with dark hair cascading over her shoulders and a confident smile that seemed a little too rehearsed. I could see why some men might find her attractive, but to me, there was something that just put me off about her polished appearance. It was like she was trying too hard to play a role.

“Mr. Jones,” she said, standing