Avery's fingers slid off the fabric of Xavier's jacket, leaving behind a trail of insolence. She smirked, her eyes flicking towards Cathleen, searching for a crack in her composed façade.

"Nothing, actually," Avery drawled. "It's just that some people might think otherwise."

Xavier's body tensed, his lips pressed into a thin line. The audacity of the woman in front of him rendered him completely speechless. A weighty whisper settled, a palpable presence enveloping them both.

Cathleen crossed her legs, every inch the picture of seduction. Her voice dripped honey and venom. "I'm sure it's nothing, um, sir," she purred. "I brought lunch; wanna eat?"

The sharp words, filled with hidden...