Xander sat stiffly on one of the sleek, modern chairs in the Empire building lobby, his sharp green eyes narrowing at Samantha as she delivered her pitch with animated enthusiasm. Samantha paced back and forth, gesturing dramatically, her determination radiating like a spotlight.
"You owe me.” She said pointedly, crossing her arms. Her tone was half-joking, half-serious, but her intent was crystal clear.
Xander’s brow furrowed. "I owe you my life. Not my dignity."
Samantha scoffed, rolling her eyes as if the distinction was trivial. "What's dignity compared to life? You were lost at sea, Xander. I dragged you to safety. I sewed your wounds. I nursed you back to health—"
"You stitched a gash and gave me soup" Xander interrupted dryly. "Let’s not romanticize it."
Samantha leaned down, h
