Chapter 553 Nordic Heat: (A Helsinki Encounter):>Ep3

• Tarja's flat building stood as a testament to contemporary Nordic design, her own creation: clean lines, expansive glass, a sense of open possibility. Inside, election coverage played quietly on the television as she measured coffee beans, the rich, dark aroma filling the sleek, minimalist space. James wandered around, studying her awards and architectural models, tracing the lines of her designs, a quiet awe in his movements.
• She switched off the telly as a pundit began analysing the rise of nationalism. The sudden silence in the flat was charged, filled with unspoken possibility. The outside world faded, replaced by the immediate, electric presence of each other.
• 'It's strange, yes?' she said, handing him a mug of perfectly brewed, strong coffee, its warmth seeping into his hands. 'After all those nights talking, seeing things... Now here in same room.'