The sharp buzz of the vibrating phone rattled across the polished table, its sound slicing through the tense silence between Arthur and Lucian.
Zrrrr. Zrrrr. Zrrrr.
Both men froze mid-conversation, their focus snapping to the phone as it trembled violently against the smooth surface. Arthur leaned forward, his movements unhurried but deliberate, and plucked the device from the table. Settling back into the plush sofa, he glanced at the caller ID.
For a moment, his expression was unreadable, but then a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. The grin wasn't warm it was sharp, tinged with something closer to mockery. As he turned slightly, giving Lucian a sideward glance, his smirk deepened.
Raising the phone to his ear, Arthur's tone shifted, a mocking sweetness coloring his words. "Oh, big sis," he drawled, his voice light but cutting. "What a miracle it is that you've remembered your dear little brother. Could it be that you missed me?"