I stepped into his path, my shoulder lightly brushing his chest.

“I don’t,” I said, offering a small, submissive smile. “But I care about your mood tonight.”

He paused, his chest rising and falling as he stared down at me.

“The Henderson partners will be here in exactly forty minutes,” he said.

“I know,” I said, smoothing the lapel of his jacket. “Everything is under control.”

“It better be,” he said, though his posture relaxed slightly under my touch. “I need this dinner to go flawlessly.”

“Go pour yourself another drink,” I suggested, keeping my voice soft. “I will go downstairs and make sure Laura’s team is quiet.”

He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes scanning my face for any sign of defiance.

“Do not let them use the good crystal for the kitchen prep,” he said.

“I won’t,” I promised.

He turned on his heel and headed back toward the stairs.

I stood frozen, listening to the heavy rhythm of his steps fading down to the main floor.

As soon as I heard the swing of the kitchen door downstairs, I slipped back into the dark office.