Aurora stared directly into the camera. For several seconds neither spoke. The atmosphere became unbearable, the weight of it pressing down on every person in the boutique.
Then Kade's voice emerged from the phone—calm, controlled, cold enough to freeze oceans. "Hello."
For the first time since entering the boutique, Aurora felt the situation slipping completely out of her control.
For several long seconds, neither Aurora nor Kade spoke. The boutique had never been so quiet—not during grand openings, not during shareholder meetings, not even during inspections.
Every employee, customer, and security guard found themselves listening to a conversation they had absolutely no business hearing, the weight of it pressing down on the polished floors and glass displays until the air itself felt thick.
