Chapter 1: The Shrinking Contract
The pen felt absurdly heavy in Michael’s hand. It was just a cheap ballpoint, the kind banks give away, but its plastic barrel might as well have been lead. Across the coffee table, Mel watched him, one eyebrow arched. Sunlight caught the gloss of her lipstick and the sharp line of her collarbone where her silk robe gapped open. The room smelled like her—vanilla, coffee, and something musky underneath.
“It’s just a joke, Michael,” she said, her voice a low purr. “A bit of fun between friends. Tina thought it was hilarious.”
“Tina knows?” The words croaked out of him.
“Of course