"You—!" Rosita, ever the drama queen, held herself back at thest second, her curse dying in her throat. The next moment, the call cut off.


    Briony calmly saved a recording of the conversation.


    She''d hit record the instant she saw Rosita''s name sh on the screen. Dealing with Rosita was like swatting at a persistent fly-annoying, gross, impossible to ignore, but ultimately harmless. For a while, Briony had thought simply keeping her distance would be enough. Buttely, she''d realized people like Rosita never took a hint; the more you ignored them, the bolder they got.


    So, Briony had decided she wouldn''t stay silent anymore. Not that she''d stoop to Rosita''s level and start a feud-she didn''t have the energy for petty drama. But as the saying goes, y with fire and you''ll eventually get burned.


    She was sure of it: Rosita''seuppance woulde soon enough.


    ...


    That evening, Briony had ns to meet Ste for dinner.


    Ste''s car pulled up outside just before six. James was with her.


    Spotting James lounging in the backseat, Briony buckled herself into the


    passenger seat and turned around. "Feeling better?"


    "Was discharged today!" James dered with pride, chin held high. "Dr. rke said my recovery was nothing short of miraculous!"


    Briony grinned. "That''s the perk of being young-fast healing."


    "Exactly!" James leaned forward eagerly. "So, what''s for dinner tonight? I''ve been living on nd hospital food for weeks. Tonight, I want real food. Meat. Lots of it!"


    Ste chimed in, "How about that bistro we went tost time? Both of you need something nourishing—one just out of the hospital, the other expecting. Their menu''s perfect."


    Briony nodded. "I''m good with anything."


    "I''ll defer to Bryn," James announced magnanimously. "Our goddaughter''s needse first!"


    Ste rolled her eyes at him in the rearview mirror. "What if it''s a boy?"


    "Don''t jinx it!" James shot back, scandalized. "I''m sure it''ll be a girl-actually, they''ll all be girls, and just like Bryn!"


    Briony and Ste exchanged a look, stiflingughter.


    Ste couldn''t resist teasing, "If all the babies turn out to be boys, Mr. Dney will be devastated, huh?"


    "Ste!" James protested, "Don''t say that-knock on wood!"


    Theirughter filled the car, the mood light and easy thanks to James''s antics.


    At the restaurant, the three settled into a private booth and browsed the menu. It wasn''t a weekend, so the food arrived quickly.


    James dug in with gusto, barely pausing to talk. It was obvious his hospital stay had left him craving a proper meal.


    "In two days, I''ll be off to the middle of nowhere on assignment," Ste groaned, picking at her fork.


    Briony paused. "You''re leaving that soon?"


    "What do you mean, ''you too''?" Ste frowned. "Where are you going?"


    "I''m off to Silveridge," Briony exined, ncing at James. "My professor rmended me for a documentary shoot about cultural heritage."


    "I heard," James said, swallowing a bite of steak. "It''s a national project-fantastic opportunity! Don''t worry about the studio, I''ll keep an eye on things here."


    Briony had worried James might object, but his easygoing response was reassuring.


    "So you''re filming for the National Cultural Heritage Board?" Ste asked, her eyes shining with excitement. "Does this mean you''re about to get famous?"


    Brionyughed. "Hardly. It''s just a documentary, not my big break."


    "Still beats what I''m doing!" Ste sighed. "I can''t even enjoy my food, knowing I''ll be stuck in the mountains for a week."


    "How long will you be gone?" Briony asked.


    "At least a week." Ste took a sip of tea. "Honestly, I don''t want to go, but Quentin asked me personally. I couldn''t say no. The only upside is Dr. rke''s going too at least I''ll have one familiar face around."


    "If Dr. rke will be there, I''m relieved," Briony said.


    Ste shot her a puzzled look. "Why''s that? Don''t tell me you secretly expect something from Cedric rke?"


    Briony gave her a knowing nce. Ste waspletely oblivious to Dr. rke''s feelings, but Briony decided not to say more; some things people just needed to figure out for themselves.


    Besides, Ste had never been interested in romance, and Briony knew that for Ste, hearing about Dr. rke''s feelings would only be a burden. Better to let things unfold naturally.


    ...


    The rainy season had arrived.


    On the day of departure, a steady drizzle pounded the city.


    Before boarding, Briony called Ste. Ste was just getting on her shuttle bus; once everyone was on board, they''d be off.


    “Be careful in the mountains," Briony reminded her. "The weather''s awfultely. Don''t go out at night, and during the day, stick with your team-no wandering off alone, promise me?"


    "Alright, alright! You sound more nagging than my mother," Ste said with augh. "Gotta go, the bus is leaving."


    "Okay."


    Briony ended the call, pocketed her phone, and headed toward the security checkpoint.


    Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split the sky, the rain intensifying in an instant.


    She paused, ncing outside. Cars huddled near the curb, wipers swishing furiously, while travelers dashed for the terminal.


    Briony stood motionless, her eyelid twitching inexplicably, a strange sense of unease settling over her.