Lily twirled her fork in the untouched sturgeon, her mind racing faster than her heartbeat. The crystal chandelier above cast dancing shadows across their table, making everything feel slightly surreal. "So, let me get this straight," she said, setting down her fork with a soft clink. "You caged Avery – like actually locked her up – thinking that would somehow... what? Impress me?"
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Znakomstvo's perfectly composed face. "The evidence is real, Lily."
"Oh my God." A bubble of laughter escaped her lips before she could stop it. "This is literally kindergarten-level plotting. Did you also pull my pigtails to show you liked me?"
His brow furrowed. "I don't understand—"
