Devon leaned back in his chair, the gala's murmurs fading into a distant hum as he let his mind drift. But before he could dive deeper, a shadow fell across his table, pulling him back to the glittering present.
He blinked, refocusing, and there she stood, Marianne Voss. Her emerald gown shimmered like polished jade under the lights, clinging to her voluptuous form with an elegance that bordered on regal authority. waves framed her face, and her hazel eyes usually sharp with bureaucratic scrutiny now held a warmth that caught him off guard. A faint scent of orchids wafted from her, mingling with the room's underlying aroma of expensive perfumes and aged wine.
"Dr Aldridge," she said, her voice cut through the noise without effort. "You seem lost in thought. May I intrude for a moment?"
