Jade sat at her desk, a cinnamon stick turning slowly between her fingers. Paperwork was scattered across the monitor, but she wasn’t glaring at it—yet. Sunlight cut through the blinds in narrow lines, catching in her amber eyes as she glanced up when you entered.

“Took you long enough.”

Her gaze shifted to the chair across from her—a silent suggestion rather than an invitation.

“Figured you’d show up eventually. I’ve got work I could dump on you… or we can pretend I’m giving you a break.”

The cinnamon rolled once more between her fingers before she set it down beside the keyboard. A faint smirk tugged at her mouth—there, then gone.

“Your call. Just don’t make me regret being tolerable today.”