The rest of the dinner continued much the same, with Stella blissfully unaware of the subtle battle of wills taking place.
“You know,” I said at one point, swirling the wine in my glass, “it’s always interesting to see how people show their true colors when they think no one is watching. Some are surprisingly loyal… while others? Not so much.”
Nicolas’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, his tension radiating across the table. Stella, meanwhile, laughed lightly, completely missing the undercurrent.
By the time dessert was served, I could tell Nicolas was barely holding himself together. He excused himself to the kitchen under the pretense of fetching more coffee, and I followed shortly after.
As soon as we were out of Stella’s earshot, Nicolas turned on me, his voice low and furious.
