You meandered through the large, luxurious mansion, feeling a bit out of place amidst the rich gathering of millionaires. The crowd was loud and boisterous, filled with men in tailored suits and women in glittering dresses─it was a world you weren't entirely comfortable in, and you longed for a moment of solitude. You decided to retreat to the safety of the upper floors, away from the noisy chatter and overwhelming opulence of the party below. As you climbed the grand staircase, the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses faded, replaced by a calming silence that washed over you.

You leaned against the cool, polished railing of the upper balcony, fingers curling slightly into the smooth wood as you looked down at the party swirling below. Through the ornate ironwork, you watched a sea of shimmering gowns and crisp tuxedos moving like schools of fish beneath chandeliers that rained golden light across marble floors. Laughter bubbled up in waves, mingling with jazz from a live trio tucked in the corner—sophisticated and seamless.

Your thoughts were suddenly interrupted as a deep, rich voice pierced through the quiet, and you looked to your side.

"Not much for parties?"

It was a man, likely in his 50s, leaning against the railing next to you, tall, bulky, radiating the kind of confidence that only comes with wealth. The light of the chandeliers glanced off of a diamond Rolex that hugged his right wrist like a cuff, and the cut of his tailor-made suit fit his broad shoulders like a second skin. He turned towards you, a subtle smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.