Page 59 of Interion

“Hello, my love!” I heard Ambrose’s voice before I saw him.

“Hi, Ambrose! You got here fast!” I stood and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek.

“My house is right around the corner, Kay. Didn’t even take me five minutes.” He sat in the chair next to me and removed his sunglasses, setting them on the table. “I’m so happy you called—I was extremely bored.”

“I’m glad you accepted my invitation. I really need your help.”

“Need? What exactly is my mission today?”

Ambrose seemed happy and relaxed. He wore a brown overcoat with a blue cashmere scarf wrapped around his neck. I felt underdressed next to him.

“First, we eat, and then I have to buy a dress for the party.”

“That's great!” he said excitedly. “I love going shopping.” He looked at the menu, stroking my hand on the table. “I'm so happy you're going to a party—I don't think I've ever seen you go to one. Zion's been good for you, Kay.”

“More like ruining me,” I thought immediately. Just hearing Zion's name was enough to put me in a foul mood.

“It has nothing to do with Zion. I don't think he's even going to the party.”

“And who are you going with?” He narrowed his eyes at me.

“With Breno.”

I tried not to think about the general as I flagged down the waiter. Beside me, Ambrose sighed.

“Does Breno know you and Zion are partners? Because if I found out the girl I liked had a partner, I wouldn't go out with her and risk getting murdered.”

“He doesn't know, and he doesn't need to. Zion and I barely exchange a good morning. Besides, Breno doesn't like me that way—he already knows nothing's going to happen between us.”

Ambrose stared at me, and I held his gaze without flinching under his judgment.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked, his eyes sad.

“Definitely not,” I said, taking a sip of my drink and staring at the dessert counter.

The waiter arrived and I ordered a chocolate tart and brigadeiros. I added cheese bread too, because ever since Zion made them for breakfast, I couldn't stop thinking about them. Ambrose just ordered a simple coffee.

“What happened to the balanced diet you were always preaching about at the hospital?”

“It still exists, but this week I've been a little out of control with sweets.” I bit into a brigadeiro. It was so good I closed my eyes to savor it.

When I opened them, Ambrose was watching me with curiosity—the same look he gave his patients.

“What?” I asked suspiciously. That look was never a good sign. But he soon smiled, and his worried expression vanished as if by magic.

“Nothing, just thinking about work, but I'll stop.”

He sipped his coffee with all the finesse of a queen. Yes, queen—because kings don't bother raising their pinky while bringing the cup to their lips. He seemed lost in the scenery outside as he savored the good old Doranella coffee.

“Ambrose, I need to ask you something.”

“Ask away, my love.” His voice was always brimming with affection and patience.

“What do you know about Adele Ivanov?”

“Adele Ivanov,” Ambrose said, rolling the name around as if testing the syllables. “Let me think... I don't have much contact with her since she's Dr. Selene's apprentice.” He frowned and drummed his fingers on the table. “I know she's an excellent exchange student specializing in gynecology and obstetrics. I've heard the human doctors love her surgeries and can't stop talking about her gift with the scalpel. I also know she has a lower power level, but she makes up for it by being impeccable with traditional medicine.”

“That explains the 10 I saw on the board,” I muttered to myself.