Chapter 424: Chapter 424 Meeting [2]

They settled into the chairs, the polished table between them gleaming with fresh linen and a small vase of white lilies. Arianne rested her hands lightly on her lap, studying him with a calm, curious composure that always seemed to disarm people before they realized it.

"I'll admit," she said after a moment, her voice warm with wry amusement, "I rather thought you might take longer to arrive."

Michael gave a short, soft laugh, the sort that never quite reached his eyes.