Love Beyond Fortune

e should have left the gala and taken the subway home, but the pull of the city skyline through the towering windows

e balcony. The chill of the evening air wrapped around her, a welcome reprieve from the glittering chaos inside. S

against the velvet night. From this height, the city felt alive, each flickering window a tiny story in its vast nar

e. She worked quickly, eager to immortalize the scene before the cold or reality could pull her away. Her

ual parade of handshakes, feigned interest in vapid conversations, and deflected Vanessa's thinly veiled attempts to reki

ty stirring as he stepped closer. The figure outside wasn't a guest. Her posture, the way she lean

ool air was a welcome relief, and the sound of the city below f

as she worked on the spire of the Empire State Building. Her fingers smudged the graphite, addin

ress

g her pencil as her head snapped up. Alex stood a few feet

rtle you," he said, h

e scrambled to close her sk

her, his gaze drifting to the

s mocking her or being sincere

is curiosity growing. "A hobby y

tchpad tightly. "It's not exactl

to the skyline before returning to her. "

raced herself for condescension, for a comment about how s

e more defensive than she intended. "Someone m

a faint smile. "Let th

ace. Lila glanced down at her sketchpad, her fingers itching

ay

cover to reveal the unfinished sketch. He stud

. "Most people focus on the lights, the glamour

observation. "You talk like you

moment, shadows passed over

ed her not to press. Instead, she reached for the pencil and resu

kly?" he asked, watching as t

d," she admitted, glan

his expression softening

idea that I can freeze a moment in time. That I can ma

couldn't ignore. He watched her work for a while longer,

me here," he said final

he criticism she'd heard too

u're too talented to be waiting tables or working catering shi

r mouth to respond, but the sound of footsteps interrupted th

the man said,

g it back into her bag. She glanc

d finally, the words

at?" he

ng me like ever

he ballroom. When she was gone, he turned back to th

t something stir within him-somethi