Age is just a Number

d her. The cold November wind bit at her cheeks, but she hardly noticed. Her mind was a whirl of thoughts as she hurried down Madis

s late

more than just an idealistic curator with an eye for modern art. She had fought for tonight's exhibit, conv

Sophia was greeted by the low hum of polite conversation, the clinking of champagne glasses, and the soft strains of

exhibit's centerpiece, a breathtaking installation of suspended metallic sculptures that reflected lig

," came a familiar

her arms crossed, a glass of champagne in hand. Her perfectly coiffed blonde hair and sharp

ed smoothly, offering h

her, assessing. "Your artist's work bett

ia said, though her sto

d nothing more, moving to greet a

with guests, subtly steering conversations toward the exhibit's theme of industrial beauty and the resilience of human creativity. Her a

," she whispered as

. "If by great you mean tryin

out your work. People love hearing ab

f energy passed through the room. Heads turn

when sh

nder

that fit him like a second skin, he moved with an effortless confidence that made the room seem smaller. His sharp, chiseled features wer

s breat

whispered, his vo

Alexander Pierce in magazines and television interviews,

on why he, of all people, was at

you here," Marcella said, her tone

d briefly. "I heard good things about this exhibit," he said, h

round him crackled with an unseen energy. She didn't realize

eemed

ce jolting Sophia back to reality. "She

interest crossing his face. "Impressive work," h

k you," she managed, her voice stea

olize his attention, but Alexander didn't s

the artist," he said. "Perh

e," she said quickly, glancing at Marcella,

nd as they moved through the gallery, Sophia

ime here?" she asked,

hough I've been meaning to visit. The Rivera

a critique. "We aim to showcase work that challen

at the corner of his lips. "And does that

kipped a beat. W

so," she said,

d the piece in silence, his expression inscrutable. Sophia found

inally. "The way it captures

what Theo was aiming for. The resilience of h

penetrating. "You have an eye fo

ething that hinted at a deeper meaning. But before she could

to introduce you to

nt longer before he nodded. "Another time, then," he said, h

the feeling that her life had just shif