PTE

E'S

e air was rich with the scent of roasting herbs and freshly baked bread, but it did nothing to settle the churning in my sto

was

oozing the poise of someone who was well aware of her own importance. Her sleek, raven-black hair flowed over one shoulder, and her tailored cream pantsuit fit her like a second

and dripping with false warmth. "You're ev

the glass. "Miss Duval." I said c

rom me and sat down, crossing her legs with deliberate

s true, but I did

tepad poised. "Good evening, ladies

for her..." She paused, her eyes sweeping over me in mock appraisal. "A wa

dly, clearly unsure if he shoul

ee," I said firmly, ign

appeared, leaving the two

fingers tapping idly against the table

here to chat,

mused, her smile never wavering.

my mind flashed back to the text that ha

ing for your sister. If you want answers

'd stared at my screen for what felt like hou

weight of that message all over again. She watched me with

n't you going to thank me for reaching out? Afte

rust mysel

concern. "You look pale, dar

," I snapped, my voice

." She leaned forward slightly, her gaze locking onto mine. "I've done my research, Rose. And what I

isted, but I

g girl vanishing without a trace, a family left in shambles..." She trailed off, her eyes g

der the table, my nail

almost pitying. "Scrambling for scraps of informat

I demanded, my voice tremblin

make that clear?" she asked simply, as if i

set the wine glass in front of Seraphina and my coffee in fron

e had all the time in the world. Finally, she set the glas

, her voice dropping to a conspirato

in my chest. "Wha

me to decide. But rest assured, it will be worth it.

ying with me, dangling the one thing I want

st you," I s

"Oh, Rose. Trust is such an overrated concept. W

call her bluff and refuse to play her twisted game. But another part of me-the desperate, broken part th

asked, my voice bar

mph. "Ah, now we're getting somewhere." She leaned bac

o a smile that didn't quite reach her cold, calculating eyes. She set the glass d

ced with an unmistakable undercurrent of menace. "First and foremo

s hitting me like a

ittle journalist playing pretend in a world where you don't belong. You hav

. I clenched my fists under the table, my nails biting into my pa

Because Damien deserves someone of his caliber. Someone who understands his world and

ing the retort burning a

meeting or our arrangement. Not a word, not a hint. If he finds out..." She trailed off, her smile re

argue, to protest, b

ssing her legs with the air of someone

so transactional. But the thought of leaving Damien felt lik

I asked finally, my voic

st a moment. "Because I protect what's mine," she said, her

e. "You don't even love him," I said, my voice tr

relevant, Rose. This isn't about fairy tales or romance. It's ab

ering. I could feel her gaze on me, sharp

asked, forcing myse

n you'll never find your sister. And

or fra

ok a slow sip, her gaze never l

me to walk away, to call her bluff and refuse to play her twisted

ut I blinked them away. "Fine," I said

dened, triumphant an

dition," I said, su

n amusement. "Oh? And

u find Lily first. No delays, no excuses. I'

she nodded. "Agreed. But remember, Rose..." Her smile faded, replaced by something d

my spine, but I nodded, unab

f her blazer. "Well, this has been lovely," she sa

ed, glancing back at me over

up, my ch

said with a smirk. "It'll only make