Eric Langley strolled into the fast-food joint with a casual air, scanning the room before his eyes landed on Lina. His smile widened as he approached the counter, completely oblivious to Karl standing there.
"Lina," he greeted smoothly, his voice carrying the practiced warmth of someone used to charming his way through life. "Didn't expect to run into you here."
Lina, still strangely soft in her demeanor, smiled back. "Oh, Eric. Yeah, I work here. Just starting my shift."
Eric leaned slightly against the counter, then finally seemed to register Karl standing beside her. His eyes flickered toward him with polite curiosity. "Oh, are you a coworker?" He extended a hand with an easy grin. "Eric Langley. Nice to meet you."
Karl's grip tightened on the counter. Of course, Eric had no idea who he was. To him, Karl was just another fast-food worker in a cheap uniform, easily overlooked.
Forcing himself to stay composed, Karl shook his hand briefly, his expression neutral. "Karl."
