CAMILLA RYDER
Each spoonful I took felt heavier under Lorenzo’s unblinking gaze. I didn't have to look back at him to know he was watching all of my movements, as though he was waiting for me to do something so he could probably snap at me.
But I did my best to act like I hadn’t noticed, even though the weight of his stare was suffocating. I reached for my glass and gulped down water—more than I needed, hoping he'd take the hint.
He didn’t.
Instead, he cleared his throat, his eyes still pinned on me like a hawk sizing up its prey.
“Our last meeting with Mr. Ryder… was rather pleasant,” he began, his voice sounding smooth but laced with an edge. “Still, I had a gut feeling things weren't going to end so pleasantly...”
I dabbed my lips with a napkin, deliberately, slowly, and more grac
