Liam flicked her a quick, almost imperceptible glance. Her answer had veered off-script, yet he couldn’t quite suppress the faint flicker of admiration.

Frederico smiled, visibly pleased with her poise.

“That’s what I like to see,” the patriarch said. “Confidence.”

“I heard your father owns a company, Olivia, and that you run it,” Felipe remarked, his curiosity sounding more like appraisal than genuine interest. “How are things going there?”

Before the atmosphere could grow any heavier, Olga st