IRENE'S POV
I was idly scrolling through my phone, half-bored and half-satisfied with my own ability to be everywhere at once. There is a small pleasure in watching the world shriek and reorganize itself while I sit perfectly still.
The living room had that clean, expensive smell that Baron liked...new leather, citrus cleaner, and a faint trace of whatever cologne he used to pretend he was still thirty. I tapped the screen, then glanced up when he came in, that confident, noisy stride he thinks is modest.
He walked toward me with his usual slow, theatrical movement, like he had somewhere important to be and wanted me to notice the timing. I raised an eyebrow and put the phone down on my knee. If he wanted the drama, he would get it. I had time.
"Quit that bullshit," he said b
