Kalian had watched Amara's face outside the Ara offices, the almost-tears, the careful composure cracking at precisely the right moment.
He had believed it.
He had believed it because he had built it, had set the conditions for it, had applied the pressure that would logically produce it, had watched the mechanism perform as designed.
They are deceiving everyone. He looked at Yvette. She was watching him with the direct, undefended attention of a woman who has nothing left to lose and has therefore also lost the ability to be intimidated by men who believe their scale is sufficient to be frightening.
"Come in," Kalian said. His voice was even. He stepped back from the door.
Yvette looked at him for a moment. Then she walked into the house. He did not offer her a seat immediately.
