Chapter 38
Hazel POV
The air in The Nation's Cafe was warm and smelled of roasted coffee beans, a comforting scent that did little to soothe the tension buzzing beneath my skin. My new ambition, a desire to fully step into the role of a legitimate businesswoman, gave a determined purpose to each step I took. In the far corner of the cafe, tucked away from the main bustle, I saw Anne sitting at a small, round table. Her posture was perfectly poised, a serene smile on her lips that didn't quite reach her cold, calculating eyes.
I approached her without a reciprocal smile. My expression was all business, and she seemed to understand the silent message. The moment I took a seat, her friendly facade vanished, replaced by a steely look of a predator closing in on its prey. She immediately pushed a single document across the table toward me, the crisp paper a stark white against the dark wood.