Victoria sat on the plush couch in her living room, scrolling absentmindedly through her phone when it buzzed with an incoming call. Seeing Maya’s name flash on the screen, she took a steadying breath before answering, her voice deliberately light.

“Maya, hi! What a surprise,” Victoria greeted, her tone filled with just the right amount of warmth.

“Hi, Victoria,” Maya said, her voice dripping with sweetness. “I hope I’m not bothering you. I was wondering if you’re free today?”

Victoria arched a brow, though her voice remained effortlessly pleasant. “Oh, not at all. What’s up?”

“I was hoping you could help me with something,” Maya began. “Zander and I are...