Page 89 of King of Sin
And the moment the call connected, his dark eyes locked onto her face as though he had been staring at the screen waiting for her to answer.
"Hello," Juliet greeted cheerfully.
Balancing the phone against a stack of books on the table, Juliet shut down her laptop and began gathering the last of her belongings. She slipped a few documents into her bag, zipped up a folder, and reached for her keys, all while keeping an eye on the screen.
Cassian didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he sat back in his chair and watched her in silence, his dark eyes moving slowly over her face as though searching for something. His gaze lingered for several long seconds, studying every detail of her expression. Yet despite the careful inspection, his features didn't soften.
If anything, he looked slightly displeased.
"Where are you?"
Juliet slung her bag over one shoulder and casually tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm at my apartment," she replied as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world. "I'm gathering some of my things before going home."
The moment the words left her mouth, she noticed the subtle shift.
His shoulders eased ever so slightly, and some of the tension that had been sitting rigidly in his posture seemed to melt away. A quiet breathescaped him, almost as though he had been unconsciously holding it until now.
Most people probably wouldn't have noticed the change.
Juliet did.
His jaw loosened before he finally spoke again.
"Alright."
His voice sounded steadier now.
"Come home soon. There's a business party tonight. I want you to go with me."
Juliet's eyes immediately brightened.
"A party?" A smile spread across her face so quickly that she couldn't stop it. "Of course I'll go with you. Why wouldn't I?"
Her enthusiasm seemed to catch him completely off guard.
Cassian blinked.
For a brief moment, genuine surprise crossed his face before he quickly concealed it behind his usual composed expression.
"You will?"
There was unmistakable suspicion in his voice, as though he couldn't quite believe she had agreed so easily.
Juliet laughed softly, the warm sound filling the apartment.
"Of course I will."
Still smiling, she pulled her bag onto her shoulder more securely and reached for her phone.
"I'll meet you directly at the party."
The reaction was immediate. Cassian's brows drew together. A deep frown settled between them.
Whether Juliet genuinely didn't notice or simply chose to ignore it, she continued speaking without pause.
