Morris's POV
I watched as Ana squinted at me, something clearly dawning on her. "Wait a minute—at that designer competition in Veridia, you didn't mess with my ranking, did you?"
My brow creased. "You really think I'm the type who can't separate business from personal matters?"
Not quite that bad.
I could see her doubts melting away.
What I'd told her was the truth—she'd genuinely earned that money through her own talent back then.
Her face brightened again. "I need to get back and fill Madeline in. Once I sort out the studio stuff, I'll start the surgery."
I looked at her with tender indulgence. "Want me to drive you home?"
She shook her head. "You've got things to handle. I'll just grab an Uber."
For a moment, I was caught off guard—how did she know I had business to attend to?
She must have caught my puzzled expression because she explained, "Usually, you don't ask—you just bundle me into the car. Asking means you've got something going on."
