"I'm here."
Lady A entered the briefing room to find Admiral Zach Skylar seated at the head of a sleek metal table. His expression was as stern as ever, his eyes narrowing the moment she stepped through the door.
"You're late," Zach said coldly, his voice carrying a sharp edge.
Angie shrugged casually, standing tall before him. "I was sparring with Rey."
Zach raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting briefly to surprise before settling back into his usual disdainful glare.
"Sparring with Rey, you say?" He leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands together. "That boy is a disappointment. A waste of potential."
Angie crossed her arms, meeting his gaze evenly. "He doesn't seem like a disappointment to me. In fact, he won the spar."
The room fell silent. Zach stared at her, his disbelief palpable. "He… won? Against you?"
She nodded. "Fair and square."
Zach's jaw tightened as he leaned forward, his voice laced with skepticism. "You must have been holding back."
