In the hotel room, Adam Willow's slender hand hovered in mid-air, a jade white chess piece glimmering warmly at his fingertips.
"Adam, you seem a bit distracted today."
Old Lady Carter picked up a bone china teacup, her jade bracelet gently swaying with her movements.
Today, she was dressed in a dark green cheongsam, her silver-white hair meticulously coiled at the back of her head, with traces of wisdom etched into the fine lines at the corners of her eyes.
Adam Willow suddenly snapped back to reality, a fleeting panic flashing behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
The chess piece landed with a "thud" in a spot where it shouldn't have been placed. He shook his head with a wry smile, "Madam, your chess skills are superb. I'm simply not as skilled."
Adam glanced at his watch—at this time, the race should have already ended.
He thought about Charles Smith's amber eyes, and a chill ran down his neck.
"Aren't you worried about Carlos?"
He attempted, his voice as soothing as jade.
