Chapter 41
At that moment Malisa leaned forward slightly, folding her arms on the table with a businesslike posture and said, "Alright then, let’s get straight to the point." She turned and motioned toward Cora, ready to introduce her properly. "My friend here, Cora, she is—"
But before Malisa could finish her sentence, Cora raised one hand, her palm facing up in a graceful yet commanding gesture.
"I’ll do the talking," she said firmly.
Malisa leaned back without argument, lips pressed together in a thin, respectful line. She knew that tone—Cora wasn’t just ready to speak, she was ready to make a statement.
Cora turned her attention to Lovi. Her eyes—calm but piercing—locked onto his as she spoke, voice cool, precise, and layered with warning.
"L-O-V-I," she said, spelling out his name slowly and deliberately, "I know what you do. And I know the type of people you work with. I’ve heard your name whispered in places most people would never walk into. And I’m not here to flatter you or be impressed."
Lovi, sitting still with a subtle smile, watched her carefully. She wasn’t like his usual clients—this wasn’t flattery dressed as negotiation. This was a woman with scars, someone who had already walked through fire and was now daring him to test her flame.
"I’m not the kind of woman," Cora continued, "who folds her hands and watches things go wrong just because someone else thinks they know better. That’s not me. I don’t allow people to do whatever they think is best with my problem. I don’t give blind trust."
She paused briefly, her tone sharpening. "So let me be very clear. If you try to double-cross me, even for a second—if you even think about using this situation against me in any way—I will fight back."