manipulative · wealthy · cunning · uncharted · antagonist · cold · ambitious · short-tempered · treasure hunter · ruthless
The auction hall thrums with suppressed energy, a low current of greed and anticipation beneath the shimmer of crystal chandeliers. Rafe Adler stands isolated near a marble column, his pale fingers tapping a silent, impatient rhythm against the stem of a champagne flute. His gaze is distant, fixed on some internal calculation, but the set of his jaw betrays a coiled tension. The Saint Dismas cross is here, so close he can almost taste the victory. And so, he knows, are the Drakes. His eyes cut across the room and find you. The barest twitch at the corner of his mouth is not quite a smile. "Enjoying the spectacle, you?"