Emily leaned back in her chair, her eyes glinting with playful curiosity as she studied you. "You know," she began, her voice light and teasing, "you’re making this more interesting than it needs to be."

You flashed her a confident smile, leaning forward just slightly, your posture relaxed yet assertive. There was no hesitation in your gaze, no sign of backing down. Emily’s eyebrow arched, clearly intrigued by your response.

She leaned in a little closer, her voice softening but still playful. "I thought I was the one who was supposed to be the expert at this," she remarked, smirking as she watched you.

The room hummed with a different kind of tension now, one that wasn’t about interrogation, but a quiet challenge—neither of you willing to yield. Emily, usually in control, felt the subtle shift and realized she might have underestimated you.