Esme didn't reply immediately. Instead, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk, and studied the pile before her. Her fingers drummed lightly on the surface, her expression inscrutable. Despite her calm demeanor, the sheer number of devices stirred a faint flicker of surprise within her. Such an investment. Such audacity. Did the old man truly believe she wouldn't notice?
Her gaze flicked up to the servant, and her voice, though soft, cut through the silence like a blade. "Forty cameras, twenty microphones. Quite the inventory. Did he honestly think I wouldn't see them?"
The servant's hands fidgeted nervously, but Esme's sharp smile put him at ease. "Good work," she said, her tone smooth yet firm. "Tell the others—one month's bonus for everyone involved. Loyalty deserves reward."
