Hailey’s POV
Roy stood behind me as I faced the mirror, the soft glow of the bedroom lights warming the room. I twisted the tube slowly, the red lipstick catching the light like a quiet warning. Bold. Unapologetic. I pressed it to my lips with steady hands, even though my chest was tight.
Roy’s reflection met mine. His eyes were serious, protective, searching my face for any sign of doubt.
“Be careful,” he said quietly.
I capped the lipstick and turned to face him. “I will.”
He stepped closer, his hands resting on my waist, grounding me. “Pedro isn’t stupid. He’s calm on the surface, but everything he does is calculated. Those papers he’s using to crash Ryan’s company—he won’t let them go easily.”
“I know,” I said, nodding. “I won’t push too hard. I just need him to believe I’m here
