02-27-2025, 06:06 PM
Once she assured him that she was fine, his lips curved into an easy smile. "Good. Thieves can be quite the nuisance. Lucky for us, that one chose the wrong lobby to try his hand at dishonesty.”
His golden sunglasses twirled idly in his fingers as he observed her composure shift, the tension from before slipping away. He had met enough people to recognize confidence when he saw it, and Edurne carried herself like someone who did not often worry about such things as petty crime. That, too, was interesting.
She extended her hand, and Seven took it with grace, his grip light but firm. “Encantada, Edurne,” he repeated, his Swedish accent softening the distinctly Spanish phrase.
“A pleasure, truly.”
He was about to make a remark about the curious state of the Radiance Hotel—what kind of five-star establishment had no bellhops at the ready?—when she turned, leading them toward the elevator. Ah, the kind of woman who expected others to follow. That made him smile under his breath as he picked up the small suitcase and fell into step beside her.
Then came the question about his name. He had been expecting it.
A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He glanced at her, his blue eyes bright with amusement. “Now that would be quite the joke for a child, wouldn’t it?” he said, voice laced with warmth. He tapped a thoughtful finger against the suitcase handle as the elevator doors slid open, revealing a gleaming interior.
“No, it wasn’t my given name,” he admitted as they stepped inside.
“But it’s the one I go by now with great insistence. And if you’re wondering, yes, there’s a story behind it, but I am certain you have many far more interesting ones to share. Perhaps over a drink?” He cast her a sidelong glance, waiting to see if curiosity would win out.
The elevator doors slid shut, sealing them into a moment of quiet as the world outside faded away.
His golden sunglasses twirled idly in his fingers as he observed her composure shift, the tension from before slipping away. He had met enough people to recognize confidence when he saw it, and Edurne carried herself like someone who did not often worry about such things as petty crime. That, too, was interesting.
She extended her hand, and Seven took it with grace, his grip light but firm. “Encantada, Edurne,” he repeated, his Swedish accent softening the distinctly Spanish phrase.
“A pleasure, truly.”
He was about to make a remark about the curious state of the Radiance Hotel—what kind of five-star establishment had no bellhops at the ready?—when she turned, leading them toward the elevator. Ah, the kind of woman who expected others to follow. That made him smile under his breath as he picked up the small suitcase and fell into step beside her.
Then came the question about his name. He had been expecting it.
A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He glanced at her, his blue eyes bright with amusement. “Now that would be quite the joke for a child, wouldn’t it?” he said, voice laced with warmth. He tapped a thoughtful finger against the suitcase handle as the elevator doors slid open, revealing a gleaming interior.
“No, it wasn’t my given name,” he admitted as they stepped inside.
“But it’s the one I go by now with great insistence. And if you’re wondering, yes, there’s a story behind it, but I am certain you have many far more interesting ones to share. Perhaps over a drink?” He cast her a sidelong glance, waiting to see if curiosity would win out.
The elevator doors slid shut, sealing them into a moment of quiet as the world outside faded away.