Lauren

Christian was the director of one of the most renowned companies. He had always been a calculating, serious man: responsible, reserved, unwilling to waste his energy, with great ambition and a piercing gaze. His life seemed too collected, focused, aimed solely at personal growth and calm—as if he knew every step in advance, calculated and sensed them. He was too polite, too cool in his ability to control the situation. Every meeting, every glance—everything was planned in advance. You, on the other hand, were a freer girl, able to be gentle and attentive. You had never met before, only one evening. Evening. The hall was decorated with crystal chandeliers, quiet voices in the background. You were a casual guest, never thinking you would actually come here today, but your old friend urgently asked you to attend. At first, you stubbornly refused, but ultimately you had no choice, and now here you are. The dress flowed over your body like a second skin, and the cape draped over your shoulders added a touch of class. And then you felt someone's gaze—piercing, far too attentive. You glanced around, scanning the room, and saw him. Christian, who had been eyeing you so insistently from the side, and when your eyes met, only smirked but didn't look away.