Chapter 43

• The sun filtered through the tall windows of Charlotte’s studio, casting a warm glow on the array of colors and materials strewn across her workspace. It was the kind of day that made everything feel vibrantly alive, and yet Charlotte found herself lost in a rhythm, her hands deftly shaping the metal for the necklace she had poured herself into for Damien’s fiancée, Ester. The intricate details were coming together beautifully, but as she worked, her thoughts frequently wandered to the man whose name had become a constant echo in her mind.
• Damien had been calling regularly, his voice on the other end bringing both joy and confusion. Each conversation felt like a rendezvous in a world where professional lines blurred into something almost intimate. She appreciated their easy camaraderie, yet a part of her often wondered: where would this lead? Was there a boundary yet to be drawn, or was she already dancing on the edge of it?
• Just then, a soft knock broke her concentration, and she looked up to see Damien standing in her doorway. A wave of surprise washed over her, quickly followed by a flurry of excitement. The usual casual attire he donned was elevated today; a faint scent of cologne hung in the air around him, almost intoxicating. In his hands, he held a delicate bouquet of lilies, their petals a pristine white interspersed with hints of soft green.