Luca saw that the person was Adrian, peering down at him with a mocking frown that twisted at the edges into something more comical. Recognition sparked between the two friends before they broke into rich, resonant laughter. To close the distance with Adrian, Luca angled his path toward the stairwell.
Within seconds, Luca met him, their laughter subsiding into simple grins as both instinctively gave each other a rapid inspection of their outfits. Luca was dressed in a black tuxedo suit, sharp and understated, with the jacket cut close at the shoulders and a tight sheen so captivating.
Adrian, by contrast, carried a flair that leaned more toward wealthy than formal. His tuxedo was red, trimmed with black satin lapels, and he wore a bow tie that made him look chivalrous. Luca's eyes caught the gold watch at his wrist, gleaming its worth at a single glance, no doubt an accessory chosen to be noticed.
