Arianne sat at the end of the sofa, one arm resting along the back without thinking about it. Franz took the space beside her in the same unspoken way he always did, close enough that their shoulders aligned without adjustment. There was no pause before or after. It simply happened.
"The timeline needs to move," Franz said, his voice low, continuing a conversation that had started earlier and never properly ended. He kept his tone directed only toward her, though he wasn't looking at her directly.
They were discussing matters regarding the Rochefort Group.
Arianne turned slightly, her posture angling toward him.
"That increases visibility," she replied, her tone even, the assessment immediate rather than cautious. She didn't hesitate on the consequence, only on how to manage it.
"It's already escalating," Franz said, his gaze moving toward the window before returning to the space in front of him."Delaying it won't reduce exposure. It just removes control."
