The Palladian Hotel's breakfast terrace offered a sweeping view of the city skyline, the morning sun turning glass skyscrapers into pillars of light. Isabella arrived fifteen minutes early, selecting a corner table that allowed her to observe the entire space. Old habits died hard, especially after last night.
She ordered coffee and watched as the city stirred to life below. Despite her exhaustion, her mind remained sharp, cataloging possibilities, weighing risks. When Seraphina finally appeared, gliding across the terrace in a cream silk suit, Isabella felt an uncomfortable twinge of doubt. Twenty years of friendship, and now she was questioning everything.
"Darling," Seraphina air-kissed both her cheeks, her perfume a familiar cloud of jasmine and sandalwood. "You look exhausted. Was the event that demanding?"
Isabella smiled thinly. "Events are never just events anymore."
