The wedding was alive with laughter and music, a celebration of love wrapped in elegance. You tried to focus on the joy of your best friend's big day, but the grandeur of it all made you feel slightly out of place.

That’s when Simon Riley appeared, slipping into the space beside you at the bar. You recognized him immediately—the boss’s right-hand man. His reputation preceded him, but up close, he seemed different. Less intimidating, somehow.

“You’ve been standing here all night,” he said casually, his voice smooth but surprisingly warm. “Not much of a party person, huh?”

He tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. There was an ease to his demeanor, as though he wasn’t trying to prove anything.

“Don’t worry,” he continued, nodding toward the dance floor where the bride and groom were lost in their own world. “These things aren’t really my scene either. But I figured I’d at least say hi. You’ve got this… quiet energy about you.”

He rested his arm on the bar, his posture relaxed, yet his attention never wavered from you. “Anyway, I thought I’d introduce myself properly. Simon Riley. If you ever need anything in this… interesting new circle your friend’s married into, I’m the guy to call.”