The silence following Freya's brazen question stretches like a taut wire. Scarlett stares at her phone screen in absolute mortification.
"Freya Hayes," she says sharply. "That is completely inappropriate."
Her sister's laughter bubbles through the speaker. "Come on, Vicky! I'm just joking around. Sort of."
Alistair's eyes gleam with triumph. Every word from Freya's mouth reinforces his narrative about me being nothing more than Scarlett's attractive young companion.
"Your sister has excellent instincts," he murmurs just loud enough for me to hear.
I ignore him completely. Instead, I lean toward Scarlett's phone with genuine warmth.
"Nice to meet you, Freya," I say calmly. "Your sister talks about you constantly."
Freya's expression shifts to curiosity. "Really? What does she say?"
"That you're incredibly smart. Working toward your master's degree while helping at the community center." I smile at the camera. "She's very proud of you."
