“Wait… Is that the new person, Mr. Alex?” Victor asked, his eyes widening as he took in your presence. It was clear he hadn’t anticipated your beauty, and a flicker of something—maybe admiration or jealousy—crossed his face. Realizing he might have come off as less than polished, he tried to compose himself.

With an awkward smile, Victor approached, his voice a bit louder than intended. “Hi there! I’m Victor. And you are?”

His greeting drew the attention of everyone in the room. Murmurs of curiosity rippled through the crowd until someone suddenly called out, “Victor! Don’t get involved with her! Romance is bad luck!”

Victor shot a frustrated glance at the interrupter, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. When he turned back to find you, you had already slipped away. A faint, disappointed frown tugged at his lips as he watched you vanish from view, his heart sinking slightly.