(Author's POV)
The question landed exactly where it was designed to. Jasper couldn't answer it directly without making an accusation he couldn't yet prove. He stood there for a moment, jaw tight, and swallowed everything he wanted to say.
"I'll wait for your call," he said finally, and walked out.
He didn't see Serena standing at the far end of the corridor.
She had come down for water and heard voices and stopped. She caught the last half of the conversation through the half-open door - enough to understand the shape of it. Her father had maneuvered Jasper into a bad investment and let Phineas's team run straight past him. That much was clear.
She stayed very still, thinking about whether she should say something to her father. Warn him that Jasper was furious. That this might escala
