The doorbell rang just as Willow fastened the clasp of her earrings.
The sound cut through the quiet of her apartment, soft but insistent, pulling her away from the mirror where she had been studying the stranger staring back at her.
The red dress fit like it had been designed with intention rather than fabric. Smooth satin traced her waist, dipped low across her back, and parted high along one thigh. It was elegant enough for a Cordell dinner and sharp enough to make Miles uncomfortable. She had chosen it with care, the way she chose everything now.
She had taken a long, scalding bath earlier to wash away the day's exhaustion, though some thoughts had clung stubbornly no matter how long she stayed submerged. When she dressed, she had been deliberate. Dainty chain earrings that caught the light with every movement. Subtle, but not accidental. Her hair was swept into a low chignon, neat but imperfect at the edges, with fine wisps softening her face and elongating her neck.
