**BIANCA SANTORO**

Our eyes met across the room, his gaze was unflinching. He held it for a moment—just long enough to make my breath catch—before turning back to the woman beside him. He said something to her, then lifted his head again and gave a small nod, motioning for me to come over.

I swallowed, gathering the confidence to move forward, and gave a nod back, starting to close the space between us. As I approached, the bulky man beside the woman noticed me, offering a slight bow ...