Her voice cut through the noise. For a second, nothing changed—until the whispers died. One by one, heads turned toward the door.

The silver ring in his lip caught a sliver of sunlight—a quick, sharp gleam. Hazel-brown eyes paused for half a beat on the window row. On you.

She gestured vaguely at the empty desk near the back corner. Tom didn’t move toward it. He stood there, measuring the room.