Binding Hearts

n't care for

s revelation. He preferred facts. Precedent. The clean, comforting structure of

was high-profile-hosted by Solvance, a tech conglomerate and one of his firm's most high-paying clients

vases hung with casual precision. Sculptures lined pedestals like silent judges. Waiters in black ves

like and moved through the cr

he s

No sleek polish, no safe color palettes. This one pulsed with emotion-violent strokes of red slashing through stor

neath read: U

self. The canvas felt like a conversation

nd him, smooth as silk with a

ned and

on-messy and graceful, intense and light. Her jumpsuit was smeared with tiny specks of dried paint, as if she'd stepped out of

u're the artis

her lost or very bored," s

"Neither. Ju

pany's attempt at pretendin

ou're not exactly the PR re

m Evelyn Jones. I work in Solvance's design team. I helped c

at the painting.

n't mean

d-just charged. The room buzzed behind

d, offering his hand

s hand with a wry grin. "I was wonderi

nk of it as a n

ting go of his hand and taking a sip from her

p in a way that cut through pretense. There was a weight behind her playfulness, the kind th

id, nodding to the painting. "Wha

ftened, eyes flicking t

erve to be loud. Even

piece again. Really looked. And for the first time i

ust f

back. "But thanks for letting Unspoken Noise bre

people," Ryan r

e. She just looked at him

and then walked a

why the room suddenly fel