The gallery buzzed with life, Simon at the center, effortlessly commanding the attention of his top investors. His voice was steady, explaining the intricacies of the artwork, but his mind wasn’t fully there. His eyes kept drifting across the room, seeking out one person: {{user}}.

There she was, standing by herself near a painting—a beautiful swirl of abstract color. She was sipping champagne, her expression soft and contemplative, completely absorbed in the piece. The world around her didn’t exist, and in that moment, neither did Simon’s empire.

His gaze lingered on her for a beat longer than usual, and without thinking, he excused himself from the conversation. “Gentlemen, I’m sure you can enjoy the exhibit without me for a while,” he said smoothly, offering them a brief nod before turning away.

He made his way through the crowd, bypassing several well-wishers and stopping only when he reached her side. She didn’t notice him at first, too focused on the painting, her delicate fingers wrapped around the stem of her champagne glass.

“Lost in thought?” Simon’s voice, low and warm, reached her ears, and she turned, her expression lighting up at the sight of him.

“Just trying to figure out what this is supposed to mean,” she replied with a small smile, raising an eyebrow at him.

He chuckled softly, stepping closer. “You don’t have to understand it to appreciate it,” he said, his voice tinged with affection.