"You're not going," Adrian interrupted.
The words landed clean and final, slicing straight through Raya's sentence like a blade.
Raya blinked.
Once.
Then twice.
Her lips parted slightly before pressing into a small, unmistakable pout, one she didn't bother hiding.
"And you didn't even let me finish," she said, disbelief edging her voice. "Is that how this works now?"
Adrian took another slow sip of his coffee, utterly unbothered, his gaze steady on her face as though he were observing something mildly interesting rather than arguing.
"Yes," he replied calmly. "That is how it works."
Raya's fingers tightened around the tray.
Of course it was.
She should have known better than to expect compromise. Adrian Blake didn't negotiate. He just decides.
Still, irritation bubbled in her chest, sharp and restless.
"It's just a party," she said, forcing lightness into her tone. "Not an escape plan. Not a scandal. Just a few hours."
Adrian finally set the cup down.
