Ashley was pacing near the exit when Arthur reappeared, her impatience palpable as she whirled around to face him.
"Well?"
Arthur slid his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. "We're leaving."
Ashley narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What did he want?"
Arthur glanced back toward the balcony where the mayor still loomed like an ominous shadow watching their every move.
"To make me an offer I'd be a fool to accept."
Ashley opened her mouth to protest but was cut off by Arthur shaking his head firmly, no discussion here.
He led them out of the ballroom while the weight of Veyne's words clung heavily in the air behind them.
---------
The sleek black Hyperion GT20 glided soundlessly through Neo-Luminara's neon-lit streets, its tinted windows reflecting vibrant colors from billboards and streetlights alike, an electric pulse that matched Arthur's racing thoughts as he gripped the steering wheel tightly.
