After dropping off the dress at home and rushing through a quick touch-up of my makeup, I found myself standing outside Mr. Hale’s sleek black car, mentally preparing for whatever tonight had in store. I spotted him leaning against the passenger side door, his suit sharp as ever, his expression unreadable.
“You’re late,” he said the moment I reached him, his tone curt but not entirely surprised.
I rolled my eyes, clutching my bag tighter. “Nice to see you too, Mr. Hale.”
“Get in.”
With a sigh, I slipped into the car, and he joined me on the other side. The silence as we drove was almost suffocating. I kept my eyes on the city lights flashing past the window, trying not to fidget.
“You didn’t even ask how my day went,” I said after a while, half-joking to ease the tension.
He gl
