the orange glow of the setting sun as the

ze fixed on the faint reflection of city lights flickering across

r," Noah, his assistant,

brushed the edge of the watch face - an old h

h the muted rhythm of the city. Outside, the towering glass of the Vallero Hot

up at the entrance, the v

uit. The faintest chill of evening brushed against his skin

Mr. Th

s - elegant without being gaudy. The maître d' s

d with practiced grace.

nodded onc

- a table half-hidden by a curtain of ferns and light. It

over the other, the low hum of

t his watc

f she's smart," he mut

sages, ignored most of them, and set his phon

2 p

gn of

expression. "Jasmine Whitmore," he murmured quietly. "Your fath

ow. "Would you like to order

ook his head

nodded an

nt's entrance, where laughter and perfume

ce at his wa

atly. Then, with a faint, ironic

ingertips against his chin. "Let's see wha

e sharp planes of his f

ed 7:21, the soft click of heels

r's eyes

peccable, gaze lifting just en

one precise, low, and deliberat

ng her lips. "I prefer to arrive when I please," she

unreadable. A pregnant silence settled over the

, frosted with cold formality, "I am not here because I wish to be enterta

se," she countered, the faintest trace of amusem

int flicker of surprise behind his usual comp

to hair. "Honestly," she said slowly, a sly, mischievous note in h

er was

ace. Her pulse hammered against her ribs, but her posture remained controlled, practiced - ev

s gaze. "You're not eating?" she asked l

ithout a word. His hand was steady, precise, movements deliberate. The waiter approached soon

ghtly on the table, eyes narrowing in a manner that

, deliberate, "how long

e birth," she replied smoo

ting his head, his gaze sh

sing her features. "Chelsea," she said casually, ta

voice calm but measured. "Chelsea? I ha

tone steady, unwavering. "Near th

e even, but with a subtle e

he said, forcing

of amusement - more a test than warmth. "Hyde Park isn't in Che

er head, brushing it off. "My bad, my bad,"

t I heard... you were born in Switzerland," he said slowl