~ Amara ~
I waited until I heard his footsteps in the foyer. The sound was unmistakable—heavy, measured, the gait of a man who owned every floor he walked on. I stood at the top of the stairs, my hand gripping the banister so tight my knuckles hurt. I had rehearsed this. Three times in the mirror, I had said the words out loud. Now my throat felt dry.
Gideon looked up when he saw me. His expression didn't change. He set his briefcase on the side table and loosened his tie.
"You're still awake," he said. It wasn't a question. It was an observation, the kind he made about stock prices or weather.
"We need to talk," I said.
He checked his watch. "It's nearly eleven. Can this wait until morning? I have an early call with Tokyo."
"No," I said. The word came out louder than I expected. I w
