The skies were only partly clouded—enough to scatter the light but not to dim it. A cool breeze moved across the terrace, sliding over the glass rail and stirring the water at the infinity pool's edge in small, shifting ripples~. The fireplace at the center of the seating area sat cold, its polished stone undisturbed.
Don and Miss Claire took the same side of the long cushioned bench, a little over half an arm's length between them. Close enough for her scent—something exotic, rich, faintly sweet—to reach him without effort.
He ignored it.
The moment they settled, she was already lifting her tablet, fingers moving with minimal motion as the screen came to life. "Now then."
She scrolled through a few screens, eyes barely leaving the device. "I have made sure all the necessary papers for your new business venture are in order. I have already sent them to your email."
