The tension

★★★★★

Harley’s eyes darkened as his father spoke, his frustration barely concealed beneath the surface. He folded his arms, leaning back against his desk as he sized up the man in front of him, refusing to let old wounds dictate his response.

"All right, since this is my office, let’s get straight to it. Why are you really here?" Harley demanded, his voice cold and business-like, giving no ground to sentiment. His gaze flicked toward Amanda, sensing that her presence was not coincidental. "Did she bring you here?"

Amanda opened her mouth, clearly prepared with a rehearsed explanation. "Harley, actually—"

But before she could get a full sentence out, Harley’s father waved her off dismissively, his tone gruff and commanding. "Who is this woman, anyway? If she doesn’t have any real business here, she can leave while we talk."

Nadia, who had been quietly enduring the tension in the room, took the opportunity to stand. "I don’t have anything pressing here, so I’ll be going," she said, eag