PTE

EXA

aunte

t her face out of my head. The way she'd looke

er looked at

ross from my desk. She'd let herself into my office without k

ctoria would have handled the d

an in red at the

tilled on her tab

ir. Early twenties.

o you

idn't know the ans

ghter. Political family, old money, nothing sp

something I couldn't name not attraction, not intimidation, b

ason,"

amed about her fo

her. I tried to reach her, but my hands passed through her like smoke. Then the scene shifted a dinner table, my gran

drenched

ered, checking my phone

t fall ba

artists. At a museum opening, standing in front of a painting with an intensity that made everyone els

t, look into her. He cam

ted eighteen months ago, already profitable. Art degree from NYU, graduated early. N

differe

at sometimes. Separation betwe

She was looking at something off-camera, and that same i

otels is interested in commissioning p

e w

are

ay. I arrived early, unusual for me, and waited i

ing all black, her hair pulled back

, not offering her hand.

time." I gestured to a ch

mission. I don't typically work

ces for the Singapore lobby, budget flexible, timeline negotiabl

she was quiet f

N

ven't mentioned

interested in the project." She picked

y n

ate spaces designed to impress rather th

nded me. Instead, I laughed. "

Goodbye, Mr

quickly. "Have

N

y n

something in her gaze made my chest

ou are, and I'm not intereste

efore I co

in five minutes lat

e commission and a

nuinely surprised. "T

That was one

orse. More vivid

mpty. I saw my grandmother criticizing her dress, her hair, her family. Saw Victoria touching my arm possessively while Sop

eard the doctor's words. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Sterling.

d the name came out i

de sense. I'd never been married. Never got

dream felt real. The w

bout sleep studies. He recommended a psychiatri

I described everything, then asked, "D

We've m

e attracte

was beautiful, but that wasn't it. The

sires. Perhaps this woman represents somet

session u

exhibition. "Networking opportunity," she

d, dist

s showcasing bold contemporary pieces. I was reading th

a's g

this was her space,"

se s

ia Ch

kered something too quick

king to an elderly couple. She wore dark green tonig

turned an

sed herself from the couple and walked straight towar

id quietly when

ed," Victori

Both of you. Ou

scandalized. I felt something click into place

n question. "But we've never even had a conversa

r. "You haven't done it

oes tha

voice dropping to a whi

ds, Alexander Sterling. And this t