The moment they stepped away from Vance and Sugar, Ava felt it.
The pressure.
It slipped off her shoulders just enough for her lungs to finally expand.
She let out a slow breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Beside her, Damian noticed immediately.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his voice low enough that it didn't carry beyond them.
Ava nodded, though her pulse was still unsteady. "I'm fine."
She wasn't entirely lying.
But she wasn't completely fine either.
Her eyes drifted around the room, and that was when she saw it.
The stares it was subtle but curious and judgmental. She hated looks like that..
People pretending not to look, but looking anyway.
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides and then her gaze landed on Melissa and Taylor. Of course they would be here why didn't she think about that fact.
They were already watching.
Taylor with open amusement.
Melissa with something sharper and something assessing.
