Stacey grabbed her overnight bag and headed for the door, her parents arguing in hushed tones behind her. "I don't think this is a good idea, Louisa," her father said, his voice laced with concern.
"Let her go, Henry," her mother replied firmly. "She needs a break from all of this. Or, do you want her to have a mental beak down? She needs her friend."
"Why can't her friend come here? We have more rooms than we can count. I just want her to be safe."
"Adrian will be with her. She'll be as safe as she can be."
Stacey felt a surge of gratitude towards her mother. She knew her father was worried, but she needed this – a weekend away from the chaos, a chance to clear her head.
As she opened the door, Adrian stood up from his position against the wall, his eyes scanning the surroundings before focusing on Stacey. "Ready, ma'am?" he asked, his voice low and professional.
