hting was low and intimate, casting a golden glow on the well-heeled patrons

de over them. He was a known quantity here, a rising star. The maîtr

leasure. Your t

a man who commanded respect. Still, the old insecurity prickled at her skin. Her simple black suit, which had felt so powerful that morni

luded corner booth, he smoothly pulled ou

or her ears only. "You own this r

shield. She felt the tens

f wine when a small stir at the

the world

sucking all the warmth from the room. And on his arm, radiant in a

ross the restaurant. Four people, locked in a

rd. The air thickened, making it hard to breathe. The old pa

foug

y constructed mask of calm indifference. She would no

le touched his lips. He casually stood up, a gesture of polite acknowledgment that was also

oking at her; they were dissecting her. There was shock, disbelief, and a white-hot rag

fact that his wife was dining with another

ards their table, her red dress a slash of color in t

her hand flying to her

, her voice loud enough for the neighboring tabl

nomous. What is a nobody like you doing

e kept her eyes fixed on Isab

require your approval, Isabelle,"

attention to Ismael, her tone shifting to

didn't realize you had time to entertain... well,

few people at the next table stop

y in front of Ava, a subtle, protective gesture. H

ntertaining a competitor's wife." He paused, letting the tension build. "I'm cele

o the silence like st

Risk.

power. A tit

e color drained from her face, leavi

's reaction that

in them now raw and untamed. He stared at Ava as if he had never seen her before. The

ad a new life. A new career. A new ally. She didn't need him a

gh. "Well. Congratulations, Ava. I hope you survive y

d," Ava replied

en turned on his heel and strode towards a private dining room at the ba

and exposed. She shot Ava a look of veno

a shaky breath. The adrenaline began

f grim satisfaction on his fac

charming conversation

water, the cool liqui

e said, a strange sense of calm settling o

ed up the script, set it on fire, and dan

glass. "To new s

crystal cool against her finger

n a very long time, she felt the future opening up bef