"No, no, don't worry," Blake said quickly. "I was the one who rushed out so suddenly, sir."
He forced his lips into what he hoped passed for a natural smile.
Up close, Alfred Hicth looked even more imposing than he had from across the table. The corridor lighting was dim, the shadows sharpening the lines of his face. His posture was relaxed, one hand still holding his phone loosely at his side, but there was something watchful in the way his eyes settled on Blake.
"Don't be so polite," the man said after a moment, the corner of his mouth lifting faintly. "You're the little lady's brother, after all."
The words sounded cordial enough, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
If anything, it made him look dangerous.
Blake let out a small laugh.
"Haha, yes, of course." He shifted slightly, angling his body toward the hallway that led back to the dining room. "Now, if you'll excuse me—"
Alfred moved just a fraction.
It wasn't much. Just a small adjustment of his stance.
