Irina's fiery eyes narrowed slightly, her annoyance bubbling beneath the surface as she studied Sylvie. It wasn't that she didn't like her; in fact, Sylvie was generally someone Irina found tolerable, even respectable. But this sudden assertiveness—this push to change the plan—was entirely out of character for her.
'This girl…' Irina thought, her jaw tightening as her irritation simmered. Sylvie rarely spoke up like this, much less in a way that challenged others so directly. And now, she was pushing back against Irina, something that sent a faint warning bell ringing in her mind.
It wasn't just annoying. It was suspicious.
'What's her angle? Why does she care so much about meeting earlier? She never does this kind of thing. Is she… one of those?'
Irina's smirk softened into something sharper, more calculating. There was a possibility here she couldn't ignore. But instead of pressing Sylvie further, she decided to pivot.
