Khalida holds a finger up. “Wait for it.” Everyone leaves, even the staff, and the last staff member to leave lets a heavy curtain fall behind them. Khalida smiles. “No one can see us now. And if you want, there’s a soundproof room back there,” she points behind a door.

Layla takes a deep breath to try to get the color to leave her face. “This isn’t boring for you, is it?”