The golden embroidery on the silk curtains of the Harbor Grand VIP suite shimmered under the crystal chandeliers, but the atmosphere inside was thick with a tension that even the most seasoned waitstaff could sense. Officer Miller stood rigid, her eyes flashing with a cold, judicial fire as she glared at Lance Sterling.
"That’s enough, Lance!" she barked, her voice cutting through the ambient lounge music like a gavel. "Do you have any idea who you’re talking to? Do you even have a shred of respect for me left in that arrogant head of yours?"
The heavy oak doors creaked open, momentarily breaking the standoff. A procession of five or six servers entered, balancing silver platters laden with dry-aged steaks and delicate hors d'oeuvres. These women were veterans of the Harbor Grand; they h
