The atmosphere on the private floor became heated.
The guards stayed where they were, close enough to matter, far enough not to interrupt. The girls had been waved off to the side, eyes lowered, pretending not to exist.
Xavier finally moved.
He didn't take the chair that had been offered earlier. He pulled another one closer to the balcony railing, turned it slightly, and sat like the room had been arranged for him that way from the start. One leg crossed over the other, hands resting loose, face tilted toward the leader without a trace of hurry.
"Alright," Xavier said. "You dragged me up here. Tell me why."
The leader watched him for a moment, lips curling, then laughed under his breath like he'd just confirmed something he already believed.
"Straight to it," he said. "I respect that. Still, manners matter at this level."
