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't have b
at crossed my mind the moment
ke they had never known dust, soft golden light spilling over polished marble floors. Th
sn't my
I kn
me, nudging my arm lightly. "Yo
der my breath, adjusting the simple bla
nly felt
o s
efore I could even consider turning back. "You
t a quie
vit
still fe
o owned companies, built empires, co
ke Ethan
at the thought, qui
sn't
like this casually-they were the
anning the room with excitement.
d a smal
Ten m
" she
tr
ally
to, accepted a glass of something I didn't e
I stayed, the
uiet p
didn't
ce and ask me what I was doing here. "S
th
oom s
as s
st people wo
I
ations
ion sh
y cha
irst. Until I followed
saw
d. He didn't wa
the moment
was dark, perfectly fitted, like it was designed
ble. But
dn't just
usted ar
him. Wa
tightened
ere. Of cou
ila whispered sh
replied quickl
oo late. Bec
already
before I co
g awareness of
tter judgment, I lift
n me. Not scanni
d. Inte
ryone in this ro
ach twis
made n
belonged beside him. Women who understood
t one o
wh
normal," Lila mutte
" I said
u know
N
was a
e.But enough. I l
had
t the way he was lookin
eld his gaze
. Something I wouldn'
Mi
came from
. Too clos
here
n Bla
right in f
oom. Not distant.
, I forgot ho
e, he wa
r. More
t just noticeable-
ssed," he said, his vo
forcing myse
m so
ied, his gaze steady on
gaze this ti
'm not mos
flickered i
t. Real
t was a
d," he said, ext
t briefly. The
idn't
w who y
Small. But
u are?"
Av
tra information. No
lingered
ith me,"
stion. A
la shift
Watching.
didn't
hat's a good idea
her p
udied
hy
his gaz
on't belong i
b
e no interes
. Real
e firs
wood didn't
ing," he s
he looked at
rest anymore. I
e- Rejecting him was
the be
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