Sophia watched this exchange with sharp eyes, noting how Juniper’s hip had canted ever so slightly before issuing her request, how Daniel’s gaze had lingered on the curve of her neck as she’d turned away. The air between them crackled with something that went far beyond professional courtesy.

“Juni,” Sophia started, but the click of expensive oxfords on marble cut her off. Roma rounded the corner like a hurricane with a male name, his presence filling the corridor with practiced menace. Today he wore a suit the color of aged bourbon, its precise cut emphasizing his height - tapered. Behind him, his team moved with synchronized purpose, their tabs glowing with quiet malice.

Juniper’s chest tightened as he approached, not from attraction, but because his smile felt forced today, perfectly mirroring the look in his eyes. Yet she stood her ground, drawing on yesterday’s borrowed confidence to maintain her stance.

“Good morning, counselors,” Roma’s drawl carried that dangerous charm that had won him countless victories. “I trust we’re all prepared for an… illuminating discussion about settlement possibilities?” Despite his commanding tone, his face remained unnervingly neutral - a disconnect that felt rehearsed rather than natural.