Erin smiled and grabbed my hand. "There is a sitting area outside the hotel. Let's go!"

I followed her to the back of the hotel, where there was an open-air sitting area. She sat down gracefully and motioned to me to sit down beside her and talk.

I sat opposite her instead and asked the waiter for a cup of boiled water, while she asked for a cup of coffee without sugar.

I lowered my eyes and glared at her.

She was in no hurry. She waited until the coffee was delivered and took a shallow sip. "Miss Ivelle, you never seem to touch your coffee?"

I nodded. "It tastes...