Valentina tilts her head slightly."You know,mija, I've known Jagger for three years.Never once did he mention you."She lifts her champagne glass, takes a delicate sip."Isn't that strange?"
The air at the table shifts.
Adena doesn't flinch."We make no claims on each other.Why would he?"
"True."Valentina sets her glass down with precision."But men talk about the women who matter."Her smile is razor-sharp beneath the warmth."You must not have made much of an impression."
I lean back, draped in a casualness I don't feel.I let a slow, ghost of a smirk pull at one corner of my mouth."I don't talk about my favorite things, Valentina.Makes people want to steal them."
My thumb brushes the back of Adena's hand, steady and slow, even as the air at the table turns to glass.
"Valentina."Marquez's voice carries warning.
She waves him off, still focused on Adena."I'm just curious.A woman with your skills—so specialized, so valuable—why hasn’t he put a ring on your finger?"
My hand tightens on Adena's.Every instinct screams to shut this down, but intervening will only make it worse.
Adena meets Valentina's gaze without blinking."Oh, he asked.But I had a job… and you know how it goes."
"Of course."Valentina's smile doesn't shift."And you're very good at what you do.The samples you provided were exceptional."She leans forward slightly."But forgery is such a particular skill.Where did you learn it?"
"Art school.Started with painting, moved into restoration work.Learned the techniques, then applied them differently."
"Art school."Valentina nods slowly."And your family?What do they think of your...career change?"
"My family's not in the picture."
"How sad."Valentina's expression is pure sympathy.Pure poison."So no one to miss you if relocated here permanently… or just…vanished."
I set my glass down.The heavy crystal hits the table with a dullthudthat cuts through her "sympathy."I don't interrupt, but I lean into Valentina’s space, my shadow falling over her plate.I don't have to say a word; the shift in the atmosphere says it for me.Try it.
The threat hangs there, wrapped in concern.
Ortega clears his throat."The documentation—when can you have the first batch ready?"
Adena shifts smoothly back to business."Two weeks for the initial set.Medical licenses take longer—they need to be verifiable in the state databases."
But Valentina's not done."Do you know what you're getting into?"Her eyes are sharp.Assessing.
"I'm fully aware."Adena's voice is even.Controlled.
Valentina sits back."Wanting the money and having the stomach for the work are two different things."She glances at Marquez."We've seen people crack under pressure.Make mistakes.Become liabilities."
My jaw tightens.She's not just testing Adena anymore.She's threatening her.
"I don't," Adena says quietly.Steel beneath the calm.
Valentina studies her for three long seconds.Then she smiles—genuine this time, or as close as she gets."Good.Because if you did, it would reflect poorly on Jagger.And we'd hate to lose him."
The message is clear:You're not just risking yourself.You're risking him.
Marquez signals a server."Another round.And let's talk numbers."
The conversation shifts.Business.Safe territory.
But I can feel Adena's pulse hammering where my thumb rests against her wrist.
Valentina just showed her teeth, and the night has only just begun.
