The words I said tasted bitter in my mouth, like poison I had forced myself to swallow. But I pushed them out anyway, staring at him with a defiance I barely felt. I wanted him to believe I was in control, that I knew exactly why I was here, even if deep down I knew I was lying to myself. My hands trembled slightly at my sides, hidden by the folds of my coat, and my stomach twisted so tightly it felt like I was holding back sickness.
Emiliano didn’t answer right away. He didn’t even move. He just stood there, glass of scotch still resting on the table beside him, his sharp blue eyes locked on me. The weight of his gaze made my skin burn. His eyes dragged over my face, down my body, slow and deliberate, like he was memorizing every detail. The silence stretched between us so long that my c
