As the attendant left, Ashton lowered himself into the seat beside Jared. His expression was unreadable, eyes blank in that way that always made the air feel heavier.
"Why isn't the food ready yet?" he asked.
"Devon needs time to prepare," Jared replied calmly, then turned to me. "Are you hungry?"
I paused for a moment, then shook my head.
Joe clicked his tongue like he was already irritated with me. "Why are you acting so delicate? It's just a termination, for God's sake. Why did we even bring in a top chef like Devon for this? What a waste."
The words hit the table like a blunt strike, but I kept my face steady.
Before anyone could stop him, I stood up.
"The view here is nice. I'll take a walk."
It wasn't really a request. It was an escape.
My words were meant for all of them, but I didn't wait for a response.
Ashton glanced at me briefly. Nothing more. No reaction, no comfort, no rejection either. Just that same quiet distance that made him impossible to read.
