Soft jazz played in the background, blending into the cozy, upscale vibe of the VVIP dining room. Tucked away behind wood panels and frosted glass, the space felt private and calm. Everything—from the gold light fixtures to the crisp white tablecloths—gave off a quiet kind of luxury, the kind that didn't need to show off.
Katherine sat stiffly in her seat, the supple leather cushion cold against her back. Her fingers curled around the stem of her glass as she offered a polite smile to Paula, who sat beside her. Across from them, Claudio and Leonard took their seats—Claudio across from Paula, and Leonard across from Katherine.
Paula reached over, gently brushing Katherine's forearm. "We're so glad you agreed to come out today," she said, her warm brown eyes glowing with easy friendliness. "It gets so boring just sitting at home, don't you think?"
