The thought had me staring at Alex's lips, though I saw someone else entirely. Just as I was about to shove him off and tell him to get the hell out, a commotion erupted in the hallway. The raised voices grew louder, cutting through the tension in the room.
"Wait! He's with someone!" I heard Eva exclaim, her voice high with panic.
"It doesn't matter. Come with me!" a booming, familiar voice retorted.
"What's with all the noise?" Alex asked, pulling back slightly as the heavy footsteps approached.
"But Sir, what if he's busy?" Eva's voice was right outside the door now.
"It's lunchtime! He can't possibly be busy!" Gramps barked, barging into the office without so much as a knock. "Hey, Xavier! Are you busy—" He stopped dead, his eyes widening. "Oh? Sir Piper. Good afternoon. I didn't realise it was you in here with my grandson."
