Seraphine was not new to these kinds of things, but she only wondered if her ring was so invisible, so she answered in a calm and even tone.
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm on my way out of here after this and I have other businesses to attend to across the city. Corvine's deputy will be handling affairs in our absence." She nodded toward the middle-aged woman seated on her left.
At the same time several phones started beeping and vibrating around the table. The prominent men pulled them out one after another.
Shock registered across their faces as they stared at whatever had lit up their screens. One by one their expressions changed, some looking stunned, others suddenly nervous, a few going pale under the conference-room lights.
Eventually Seraphine watched Voren lower his phone, but for the rest of the meeting almost no one looked at her for more than a second.
