WHEN SHADOWS FALL

ion, glowed in the carefully calibrated lights that had taken hours to create. It was the most significant event of

, more p

mposed millionaire. Even in quiet, the man's compelling presence made him a master at c

night is more than a celebration of Calloway Industries." It's a celebration

ourteous applause. I felt a shiver g

not just art-it's a story." A monument to the strength of tenacity

d refracted light in ever-changing patterns, drawing the crowd's attention. It stoo

been recovered from the debris, including broken glass panels

work is amazing." There was something u

of his attention, but I managed a

statement intended for Liam but addressed to the audience: "Art, like life, is often born from chaos."

words lingered in the air. Then there wa

ke a gravitational pull, I took a step back,

d. I was unable to pay attention to anything except Liam's remarks as

en eyes sweeping over my face,

y glass of champagne

't appea

. "It's just... listening to him speak about change and resiliency

e inscrutable. "Perhaps he is a

e's just attempting t

, the fact that everyone in the room is discus

zed cut me off be

va

me as I turned, his fac

pped away before I could stop her

, Liam replied, "I hop

er plainly,

wasn't a maliciou

hat do y

wanted to say your speech was incredible

here was just genuineness, withou

," in a tone that was c

ting mine. Eva, you've made grea

ated it, as if he had been obse

my voice, I asked. "After your fa

his face darkened. "That wasn't

d Liam, you were present. You w

was a disturbance close to the door. Sharp, passionate

ing about. One of Liam's aides and a guy in a se

's tone was instantly fo

A breach has occurred," she replied quietly. "The comp

's mouth cle

ssage, but we'r

is it?" Before I could

ing from me to Liam. "I'm

ick to m

came strained.

e," she said. "Yo

isplaying a mixture of worry and p

ecoming involved, yet I hesitated. How

the crowd's muttering faded awa

your opinion?" My voic

. "However, I feel like t

of the journey. I kept thinking that whatever was waiting for u

be no turning