Denis snapped out of his thoughts as his father's voice hit his ears. He caught her gaze for a second, and it was enough to make his chest tighten. But she looked away quickly, her expression unreadable. His fingers clenched in his lap, the tension in him rising as longing and a feeling of loss settled in his chest.
Dimitri's eyes narrowed with interest. "Is that so? She worked under Denis?"
Augustine stepped in without missing a beat. "That's old news." He wrapped an arm around Anne's waist and pulled her closer to him. "She works with me now."
He turned to Anne with a soft smile, clearly declaring his affection for her. She returned the smile, completely at ease with him. The brief exchange between them said more than words: they trusted each other. Their bond was stronger than anyone inside the room had anticipated.
The atmosphere was tense. Dimitri studied them both, his curiosity sharpening, while Gabriel's expression stiffened.
