"I need to take this call."
Without waiting for his response, Irina turned on her heel and walked away, her heart pounding with a mix of relief and anticipation.
She could feel Jeremy's eyes on her as she left, but she didn't care. All that mattered was that he had finally contacted her.
She moved quickly through the crowded hall, finding a quiet corner where she could answer the call in peace. Taking a deep breath, she tapped the screen and brought the smartwatch to her ear.
"Finally," she murmured, her voice tinged with both annoyance and relief. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to hear from you?"
Irina brought the smartwatch's voice to her ear, activating the formation, her pulse quickening with a mixture of frustration and relief.
–I figured you'd be waiting," Astron's voice came through the line, calm and composed as ever.
