Robert leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze locking onto Ashok's eyes, searching for any hint of hesitation or deception in the calm surface of his expression. Ashok, however, remained still, his gaze unwavering. A minute passed, though it felt much longer. Robert's eyes flickered slightly, his grip on the situation slipping. With a subtle sigh, Robert broke the stare and looked away, his posture betraying a hint of frustration.
"Follow me," Robert finally muttered, his voice strained as he stood up, clearly conceding defeat in this silent battle of wills.
Robert walked over to the main entrance, his eyes narrowing as he peered out into the street. He glanced left, then right, scanning for any sign of unwanted attention. Satisfied that no prying eyes were nearby, Robert reached up and flipped the hanging sign from {Open} to {Close}, and locked the door.
