Back on the cliff mansion grounds, Emily sat close to the stage with her posture immaculate and her attention divided between the Young Dragon beneath the lights and the quiet instructions still arriving through the earpiece she wore.
Ashworth's voice had guided the entire night from afar, calm, precise, infuriatingly composed, and when it came through one final time with that simple order, Emily's gaze flicked toward Phei as if calculating exactly how to land the message without disturbing the rhythm of the slaughter too abruptly.
"Right away, sir," she said softly.
However his voice reached Emily from Paradise, it was no modern, but he'd made sures Emily received it in her earpiece.
Then her voice reached Phei through his own hidden earpiece, smooth and low beneath the anchor's strained attempt to maintain professional dignity.
"Boss, that is enough. The Vice Principal says thank you."
On the stage, Phei exhaled almost imperceptibly.
