I kept my shoulders straight as I walked down the main hallway of the Pack House beside Richard, Elsa trailing behind us like a lioness stalking prey. My palms felt clammy, and I rubbed them against my skirt when I thought no one was looking. But of course, she noticed.
"Everything all right?" Elsa asked, her voice all sugar. "You look pale. Overworked?"
"I'm fine," I bit out, refusing to meet her eyes.
Richard's gaze flicked between us. He tried for neutral, but I could see the warning in the set of his jaw. "Let's focus on the meeting."
We walked in silence for a few seconds. Elsa's heels clicked with precise, infuriating rhythm. I could feel her watching me, assessing, dissecting. She shifted closer to Richard deliberately, and he angled slightly away from her, almost unconsciously
