Chapter 31: The Terms We Don’t See
Frank didn’t answer right away.
Sarina’s offer—"Would you like to trade?"—hung in the air like a knife suspended over a ledger.
He folded his arms and tilted his head.
"That depends," he said. "Do you throw in a brochure with that kind of deal? Maybe a feature list? Upgrade path?"
Sarina gave a quiet laugh. "You’re handling this better than most."
"Do most scream?"
"They ask the wrong questions. Or they say yes too fast."
"Amateurs," Frank muttered. "Never agree to anything in a room that hums."
She stepped fully into the chamber again, the arcane light catching her eyes—silver, sharp, thoughtful.
"You think I’m baiting you."
"No," Frank said. "I think you’re opening a door I can’t close. Which, in my experience, means I should look very closely at the hinges."