Page 23 of Their Arrangement
Like it was charming.
Like it was amusing to watch a girl drown.
I felt it like a slap. A hot flash of shame climbed up my chest, into my throat, burning the tips of my ears.
Royal glanced at Loyal, then looked back at me.
“You sure this isn’t your first day at a call center?”
I wanted to sink through the floor.
“I’m—trying,” I said, voice shaking.
He pushed the notebook back toward me.
“Try harder.”
My fingers curled around the edge of the table to keep from shaking.
My jaw locked to keep my face neutral.
Loyal cleared his throat. Not loudly. Not forcefully.
Just enough to redirect.
The meeting moved on.
But my heartbeat didn’t slow.
And Royal didn’t stop watching me.
Royal pushed the notebook back toward me. He didn’t toss it. That would have been too obvious. Too kind. He slid it across the table with two fingers, like it offended him.
“Cute handwriting, though,” he murmured. “Little hearts over the i’s. Still a fan of high school romance novels?”
My face went hot.
Loyal shifted beside him. His chair creaked. “That’s enough.”
“No,” Royal said, ignoring him, eyes still on me. “Let’s test her.”
He leaned forward, fingers laced under his chin like this was a game he alreadyknew he’d win.
“Cloe,” he said, all polite cruelty. “What’s EBITDA?”
My blood ran cold.
I blinked.
The room got quieter.
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
The air shifted.
The older executive raised an eyebrow. Amused. Mildly curious. Waiting for the punchline.
