Silence stretched between them, heavy and fragile.
Damien leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, eyes flicking from the phone to Maya. “That’s actually… not a bad idea,” he admitted slowly. “I never considered Japan before—not with our history with the Takahashis. But now…” He trailed off, the thought unfinished but heavy in the air.
On the other end, Harper exhaled, guilt lacing her voice. “Okay, okay, I get it,” she said quickly. “But hey—here I am, right? No more secrets. You know who I am, and we’re allies. You can trust me.”
A teasing lilt entered her tone as she added, “Besides, I still work for you, boss.” She winked, flashing a sheepish grin that softened the edge of her confession.
Jaime’s eyes widened as the pieces clicked together. “Wait—hold on! What does Harper have
