Chapter 10
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Everett Rojas glanced away without waiting for her words.
A quick tilt of his head invited her to claim a chair. He dropped onto the facing couch.
She shifted uneasily on her feet until his firm voice urged her down.
The entire week had passed in endless rehearsals of her lines.
Now, locked eyes with Everett Rojas, her head rang hollow.
Quiet stretched as she fumbled for clarity, neither breaking it.
Carolina resolved to probe Connie’s welfare right away.
Updates on the investigation could follow naturally.
Everett Rojas cut ahead, voice cutting the tension.
“You pieced together my secret and shadowed me by choice.”
Casual delivery suggested no reply needed.
That pointed doubt demanded pushback all the same.
“Feels like you’re the constant shadow in my spots.”
She snapped the facts into sequence for emphasis.
Everett’s mouth hooked slyly, gaze sharpening with delight.
His blank mask bloomed into something magnetic and warm.
The effect pulled like an invitation.
What game ran through Everett Rojas’s head? From her angle, warmth flooded her skin.
Carolina dragged her stare off his smile, which had trapped it.
He parted his lips precisely then, primed.
“Granted, but crowds like that blend into routine now.”
No spin made the jab less galling.
Yet his version landed flat and neutral.
Nerves forced a stiff laugh from her, words tumbling vague.
Dryness burned her throat. Without eyes on her, she’d fan the fire raging inside.
Her deflection barely registered. His grin stretched further.
He angled close, breath hinting at confidence.
“Overheated already? That blush gives you away.”
Eyes chained to hers, chasing every darting glance.
No one owned his looks better.
Carolina steeled against the pull.
Deep lungful in, slow release out.
The burn faded to tolerable.
Sensing her anchor, Edwin—Everett—drew away smooth.
Play evaporated into focus.
“Down to work, Miss Diaz?”
Everett delivered the line with breezy calm, eyes tracing Rina’s violet depths, echoes of her mother’s shade.
Disbelief swam pure there.
Absurdity deepened, narrowing her stare a fraction.
Mouth corners jerked, resentment at his nerve unspoken.
“Feels like you’re the constant shadow in my spots.”
Denial would draw full timeline from her, step by step.
Had exposure missed the mark entirely?
Edwin let out a low chuckle, charmed by Rina’s fixed stare, cheeks painted vivid.
Violet haze bloomed soft, oddly agreeable.
No spark of desire stirred him.
Pressing into her line of sight brought only detached wonder, as if sizing fine marble.
Fresh response, entirely new.
Rina’s poise returned gradual. Edwin’s spark dimmed. Seat claimed fully again.
Probe complete, fun wrapped despite regret.
“Down to work, Miss Diaz?”
Crown weighed heavier than whims; palace called.
Abrupt turn jolted Rina rigid before intent locked her features.
“One pause first.”
Bell chime hauled Kyle from the café link.
“Chat runs long.”
Kyle stepped in. Edwin named orders crisp.
“Whiskey hits for me. Fruit wine suits Miss Diaz.”
“Café rules apply here,” Kyle griped low.
“Pass on that,” Rina jumped quick, alcohol shy maybe.
Edwin’s curve held quiet mercy for her blind step. “Coffee fits then, Miss Carolina Diaz?”
Rina’s gaze rippled doubt.
“Café hands brew rough—bottle fruit wine spares you grief,” Edwin leaned in murmur, pitched private but pointed.
Breath caught, Rina weighed, landed firm.
“Fruit wine works.”
Nod sent Kyle moving.
Secret throne aside, command held Kyle fast.
Bottle and stems arrived prompt.
Edwin claimed whiskey pour, hers glowed gold and full.
Chair back met spine lazy, glass waved casual toast.
Rina matched rise swift.
Whiskey vanished whole; her lips met rim tentative.
Edwin tracked every swallow, curve and pulse.
Fragile stem cradled slim measure. Sips twice over, half gone.
State scanned close, words launched.
“Connie pulls through strong.”
Prime crumb tossed her way.
Wine’s linger broke as Rina’s focus snapped full.
“Kyle covered it—freedom holds off.”
Violet misted faint from scant taste, gaze dodged brief.
“Delay reason? Evidence pins Duke Camelot, Connie walks free.”
Clarity held, edge dulled soft yet unbent.
Edwin’s laugh warmed at raw daring.
Blissful ignorance.
Intelligence webs mocked trader stalls.
Doubts swept casual.
“You tapped Kyle for upright power to sort fair.”
Rina’s seal thinned, bluff thin as air.
“Duke Camelot falls public, Constance clears clean, yes?”
Mind laid bare word for word.
“Solo proof falls short of lock. Camelot hold swarms with checkers now. Stands firm, truth breaks quick.”
Fresh fills circled, chin nudged ahead.
“Sip deeper.”
His whiskey drained demo; hers dipped again.
Emptied clean, smile bloomed.
“Timing right, she joins free air.”
Calm wrapped assurance. Rina dipped head, sour twist.
“Deliver true.”
Sweet veil hid kick hard. Tolerance gleamed rare.
Palace escape carved for her alone—gains pressed now.
Next prod hung, worry flickered.
Hold steady?
Half vintage lingered.
Wrist thin caught eye, chin scratched thought.
Frame halved men’s—drug scaled sharp.
No more pour chased. Probe slid easy.
“Name guards trust built. Intel roots blind—cross check, guild post maybe?”
Violet hold broke wild, swung back chaos.
Steady press flustered her pour, brim high spill tease, bottle dry.
Gulp claimed all desperate, block too slow.
Name called soft caution.
Void echoed back.
Rina’s lights dimmed out.
