y. A colossal abstract sculpture, made of twisted metal and shimmering glass, dominated the

ons. He stood beside me, his head tilted back, admiring the piece with an intensity I ha

eyes sparkling. "It' s got guts. It' s not

let myself feel in years. My ex-boyfriend, Edward, would have called it "pretentious" or

vulnerability in my voice. "It' s... overwhelming in the best possible way." A tear pri

ply reached out, gently taking my hand. His thumb rubbed soothi

feel things, Allyson," he said, his voice soft, alm

tching me with an expression of quiet triumph, like a scientist observing a succe

a genuine emotional reaction, and in his strategic mind, that was a win. He cares,

you their raw emotions, it means you're doing something right. It means they trust you.

lips. "You know a lot about art, for someone who pretend

k. Said it was 'cultural immersion.' I mostly just snuck snacks and drew caricatures of the stuffy patrons." He gestured

inting, then back

cheeks. "Uh, yeah. Sometimes. Nothing serious." H

saying, the words leaving my mout

ed. "Def

f ease with him. A comfortable quiet joined the playful banter. It wasn't just the art that was ope

f-made tech CEO. He' d built Atkins Technologies from the ground up, starting with nothing but a fierce intellect and an even fie

ve,' 'unscalable.' Said I was just a trust fund baby playing with daddy's money." He kicked at an invisible pebble on the polished floo

is face. "That's when I learned that some

at?" I asked, alread

a fraction. "And where Brody Frazier wins. That's why I'm here, Allyson. To

y battling other tech titans, too focused on the next big acquisition. Brody, for all his charm and resources, h

ed, a hint of skepticism in my voice. Edward wa

tends to be. Everyone has a soft spot. Or a glaring weakness." He

ted on buying me a small, intricately carved wooden bird.

ound the smooth wood. It was a thoughtful

about that Edward Atkins. You two kept things pretty quiet, d

e. He said it was better for my pri

an who actually had a personality." He narrowed his eyes, a thoughtful frown on his face. "Actually, I remember seeing you at on

sed. "I... I don'

e like Edward. Too... unique for his taste." He looked at me, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaz

eric. A designer scarf. An expensive watch. Things he could buy off a list. They were transactional, symbols of h

n bird, carved by him in a moment of rare, uncharacteri