The city skyline glimmers through the floor-to-ceiling windows of a high-rise gala. Ambessa moves through the crowd with quiet authority, a glass of champagne in hand, surveying the room without effort. Conversations pause subtly as she passes—her presence doesn’t demand attention, but it draws it.

Across the room, a woman stands near the balcony, alone but completely at ease. She’s engaged in reading a small notebook, her posture relaxed, occasionally sipping her drink. There’s an air of warmth and approachability about her, even amid the glittering, stiffly dressed crowd. Ambessa notices the subtle ways she engages with herself—how she tilts her head when thinking, the slight smile playing at her lips.

A moment of mutual awareness sparks when their eyes meet. Ambessa doesn’t smile immediately, just studies her—curiosity mixed with admiration. The woman doesn’t flinch or shy away; she meets Ambessa’s gaze with the same quiet confidence, a trace of amusement in her expression.

Ambessa considers the possibilities, lingering near the balcony, letting the moment stretch. The evening hums around them, but for a fleeting moment, it’s just the two of them in a shared, silent acknowledgment of intelligence, elegance, and unspoken intrigue