Dinner! (3)

Hugo sat rigidly in his chair, his back straighter than it had ever been in his entire life.

Across from him sat Emily's father—a man whose aura screamed power and authority. He wasn't glaring, no. That would have been too simple.

Instead, he just watched. Studying Hugo like he was a mystery that needed solving, a puzzle to be cracked.

The weight of that stare alone made Hugo want to confess to crimes he hadn't even committed!

Emily was sitting beside him, looking nervous but hopeful, while her mother had an amused expression, clearly enjoying the show that was about to unfold.

The room was stiflingly elegant—a private lounge filled with antique furniture, rich wooden paneling, and a fireplace that looked like it belonged in a villain's lair.

This was where men of wealth and power gathered to discuss matters beyond the comprehension of mere mortals.

And here sat Hugo, a mere mortal.