The group descended to the ground floor and crossed through a covered walkway that connected the villa proper to a separate building Jake hadn't noticed during his arrival, smaller and more austere, clearly designed for official business rather than living quarters.
The receiving hall was understated in a way that suggested careful intention, the kind of room where serious conversations happened without the distraction of excessive decoration.
Long windows on one wall let in morning light.
A low table sat at the room's center with cushioned seats arranged around it. Standing near the windows, looking out over the terraced gardens below, was a man who turned when Jake entered and smiled with genuine warmth.
