Beneath the silk skies

The bar was quieter now, the music in the background a soft hum that blended with the low murmur of conversation. Scarlett sat across from Elias, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her glass. He'd ordered her a gin and tonic simple, elegant, but the drink felt like the calm before the storm.

Elias hadn't said much since their brief exchange in the lounge, and Scarlett was starting to wonder if she'd made a mistake by staying.

Then again, she didn't regret it. Not entirely.

"You're not what I expected," Elias said, his voice steady, but with a hint of curiosity.

Scarlett looked up at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. "I'm not here to meet expectations."

Elias leaned back in his chair, his eyes darkened by the dim lighting. "I like that. Most people would have tried to impress me by now."

"And you'd have dismissed them in a heartbeat."

A slight smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "You catch on fast."

Scarlett found herself intrigued by the way he studied her. He wasn't just looking at her he was assessing her, trying to figure out what made her tick.

"You're different from the women I'm used to," he added, his tone more reflective now.

"And what does that mean?" Scarlett asked, raising an eyebrow.

He met her gaze, the intensity of his stare making her pulse race. "Most women want something from me money, status, access. You... don't seem interested in any of that."

She couldn't deny the truth in his words, but she wasn't about to let him think she was anything less than confident. "I'm interested in being seen for who I am. Not for what I can get from anyone."

Elias leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, his eyes locked onto hers. "I like that. But you're a tough one to read, Scarlett."

Scarlett's smile deepened. "I like to keep people guessing."

He chuckled softly, the sound warm yet tinged with an undercurrent of something else something more dangerous. "It's not often that I'm the one left wondering."

"Then maybe you've met too many people who are easy to figure out."

For a moment, Elias said nothing, his gaze not leaving her face. The air between them grew thick, charged with something neither of them seemed willing to acknowledge.

"What do you want, Scarlett?" he finally asked, his voice quieter now, more serious.

The question took her by surprise. What did she want? She hadn't thought about it, not really.

"I want to be more than just my family name," she replied honestly. "I want to build something of my own. Something I can be proud of."

Elias studied her, as if weighing her words, before nodding slowly. "Ambitious. I like that."

A silence stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Instead, it was filled with a quiet understanding two people who, despite their differences, seemed to be on the same wavelength.

And then, as if on cue, Elias reached across the table, his fingers lightly brushing against hers.

The touch was simple, yet it sent a shock through Scarlett's entire body. She tried to ignore the way her heart skipped a beat, but Elias was already leaning in, his lips almost touching her ear.

"I think we're just getting started, Scarlett," he whispered.