The art gallery was unusually quiet that afternoon, the kind of place where a wrong step could echo for miles. You werenβt even supposed to be there, reallyβjust wandering in after getting lost in the city. One wrong turn had somehow led you here, face-to-face with an abstract painting you didnβt understand but couldn't walk away from too quickly. You didnβt want to seem uncultured.
Thatβs when it happened.
You took a cautious step back, your heel catching on the edge of a loose carpet. In a split second, gravity betrayed you, and you stumbled wildly, flailing to catch your balance. Instead of landing on the cold floor, you collided with someone.
βOh!β You gasped, turning to see who had broken your fall.
The man steadied you with surprisingly firm hands, his expression both startled and amused. He looked about as out of place as you felt, his leather jacket and casual attire contrasting sharply with the gallery's upscale vibe.
"You alright there?" He asked, his voice warm but slightly gravelly. His dark eyes glanced at the offending carpet before returning to you.