They all blocked the doorway,pletely barring Calliope''s way out.


    "You''re not leaving this room without my say-so," Oliver drawled, swirling his whiskey with azy flick of his wrist. "And yet here you are, trying to defy me. Bold move."


    He took a slow sip, his eyes never leaving her. "Don''t tell me you''re hoping Ss is going to burst in here and rescue you?"


    He gave a dry chuckle. "He''s out of town on business. Even if he wanted to help, you think he could get past me?”


    A burly guy by the door chimed in, "Don''t push your luck, sweetheart. Just sit tight and don''t make this harder than it needs to be. Sometimes, you know, being stubborn just means you''re the one getting hurt."


    Calliope shot Oliver a cool, almost amused nce. She let out a littleugh. "Mr. Myers, you really think I can''t get past your little weingmittee?"


    She eyed the guards blocking the exit. "You''re underestimating me. And you''re definitely underestimating your son''s taste."


    Then, before anyone could react, she tossed a handful of powder straight at the men by the door.


    They froze, instinctively breathing in as the powder clouded the air.


    "Whoa, what is that?" one of them stammered, swaying a bit. "I''m..... kinda dizzy..."


    "Hey, something''s off with this stuff," another muttered, already slumping against the wall. "She''s got something weird..."


    Within moments, they were dropping like bowling pins, one after another copsing to the floor, out cold.


    Oliver, still lounging on the couch, blinked in disbelief. He hadn''t seen thating, but he kept hisposure, just quirking an eyebrow.


    "So you''re carrying knockout powder now?" he said, narrowing his eyes in interest. “You really think that''s enough to handle me?"


    Calliope nced over her shoulder at him. "Of course not. I know you''ve got tricks up your sleeve. I''d be an idiot to think a little sleep dust would stop you. But you''ve got your


    we


    methods, and I''ve got mine. If you want toe after me or Ss, you''re wee to try. Let''s see how it goes."


    She sized him up, a hint of mischief in her smile. "Just be careful, Mr. Myers. have a knack for cooking up all sorts of exotic concoctions. One day, you might just end up my test subject."


    He gave her a slow, almost approving smile. "You can try, if you think you''ve got what it takes. But I wouldn''t count on it."


    Oliver was amused, maybe a little ticked off, but he didn''t seem worried. If anything, he looked like he was enjoying the challenge.


    "Mr. Myers, if you ever want to volunteer as my guinea pig, I wouldn''t mind," Calliope teased, stepping over the unconscious bodies with a practiced ease.


    Without another word, she slipped out of the hotel, leaving Oliver and his men behind.


    Oliver didn''t bother to follow. With his guys snoring on the floor, what was the point?


    He nced around, then sighed and pulled out his phone.


    "Anyone still awake here?" he asked, knowing full well no one was going to answer. He called up his doctor and waited.


    The doctor arrived a little whileter and checked the men on the floor.


    After a minute, he looked up at Oliver, a strange expression on his face. "Mr. Myers, they''re... well, they''re all just asleep."


    Oliver frowned. "What do you mean, asleep? Wasn''t it poison?"


    The doctor shook his head. "If it was poison, it''s the mildest thing I''ve ever seen. They''re just, well, knocked out. Almost like someone slipped something into their hot chocte."


    He nced around, baffled. “But, uh... why are they all sleeping on the floor?"