The dining room was thick with quiet tension. Soft candlelight flickered across the polished table as Alex continued to enjoy his dinner at an unhurried pace, though the food itself had long stopped being the focus of the evening.
Madison and Emma stood on either side of his chair, still dressed in those deliberately short black-and-white maid uniforms. Their breathing was slightly quicker than usual.
Neither had spoken for the last few minutes, but both pairs of eyes remained fixed on him, waiting.
Alex set his napkin down, signaling that he was finished.
Emma moved first. She stepped forward and began clearing the plates with careful, practiced movements, stacking them neatly without making unnecessary noise. Her short skirt swayed lightly each time she leaned over the table.
