DAMIAN The light streams through the window, golden and lazy, settling on Zip's manicured fingers while she gestures wildly. Her voice lilts with that unmistakable blend of arrogance and charm. The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the room but I barely notice it over the chatter between Alice and Zip. Their voices flit back and forth like tweeting birds and despite myself, I can't help but pick up fragments of their conversation. “Monaco,” Zip resumes in a dramatic drawl, dragging the word like it's a fine wine she is savoring. “You've never seen anything like it. I mean, the yachts, Alice. My God. The wealth isn't just palpable; it's intoxicating.” Alice tosses an amused look at me. “She's been raving about Europe for months now,” her words laced with humor. Zip dramatical

