CHAPTER 19 — THE GREY EYES

The flight to Paris was delayed.

Seraphina stared at the notification on her phone. DELAYED — NEXT AVAILABLE 6AM TOMORROW.

Then the second notification right beneath it.

Blackwood Children's Charity Gala — Tonight 8PM. As Atelier S founder, you're on the guest list. — Vanessa

She had planned to be in the air by now. After last night — after the pearl dress, after Lorenzo had looked at her like she was a stranger he wanted to memorize — she needed distance.

Distance was not happening.

A soft knock hit her bedroom door.

"Mama?"

Leo stood there in his pajamas, holding his two red cars. One in each hand, like always.

"Mrs. Patel is sick," he whispered. "She has a cold and can't come."

Seraphina knelt. "I know, love."

"So can I come with you to the work party?"

She wanted to say no. The Blackwood Gala was full of cameras, full of people who knew Lorenzo Blackwood. The last thing she needed was Leo there.

But Mrs. Patel was really sick, her mother was out of town, and the nanny agency had no one at 6pm.

"Okay," she said finally. "But you have to wear your little suit. And you have to stay with me."

Leo's whole face lit up. "And bring my cars?"

"And bring your cars."

---

The Blackwood Foundation ballroom was glass and gold.

Seraphina hated it instantly. Too bright, too many whispers. She kept Leo's hand tight as they entered. He was perfect in his tiny navy suit, his hair combed, his two red cars clutched tight.

"Stay close, okay?"

"Okay, Mama."

She led him to the balcony edge, away from the crowd. She could see the whole room from there. She could work the room without being in it.

That's when Lorenzo saw him.

Across the ballroom, Lorenzo Blackwood stood with Marcus, champagne in hand, listening to some investor. Then his eyes stopped. Drifted. Locked.

On the small boy in the navy suit.

Seraphina felt her stomach drop.

Lorenzo said something to Marcus, too low to hear. Marcus turned to look too.

From where she stood, she saw Lorenzo's lips move.

"Whose child is that?"

Grey eyes. The same storm-grey eyes that Leo had. The same eyes she had tried not to think about for four years.

Leo, bored on the balcony, leaned over the railing. One of his red cars slipped from his small fingers.

It fell.

It clattered down to the main floor, rolling — straight to Lorenzo's polished shoes.

The ballroom noise faded.

Lorenzo looked down. Slowly, he bent and picked up the little red car.

He looked up at the balcony.

At Leo.

Then, without a word to anyone, he walked through the crowd toward them. People parted for him without him even asking.

Leo froze beside Seraphina, watching the tall man approach.

Lorenzo stopped at the bottom of the balcony steps. He knelt, so he was at Leo's eye level. It was an unnatural movement for a man who never knelt for anyone.

He held out the car.

"You dropped this."

Leo stared at him, then carefully took the car back. He held both cars to his chest now.

"Thank you," Leo said politely. Seraphina had taught him that.

Lorenzo didn't get up. He was studying Leo's face like a man trying to solve a puzzle that was hurting him.

"What's your name?" Lorenzo asked, voice low.

"Leo."

"Leo what?"

Leo glanced at his mama. Seraphina couldn't breathe.

"Leo S," Leo said. "Like Mama's shop."

Lorenzo smiled. A small, real smile. Not his boardroom smile.

"How old are you, Leo S?"

"Four. I'm four and a half actually."

"Four and a half," Lorenzo repeated. He looked at the two cars. "You like cars?"

Leo nodded seriously and held one out. "This one is fast. This one is strong. They are brothers."

"Brothers," Lorenzo said softly.

Seraphina watched from one step behind, her hand on the railing so tight her knuckles were white. She should step in. She should say something. But she couldn't move.

She was watching something she had imagined for years and prayed would never happen.

Lorenzo reached out — hesitated — then gently tapped the roof of the fast car.

"Can the fast one win without the strong one?"

Leo thought about it very hard. "No. He needs his brother."

Lorenzo's grey eyes flickered.

From her angle, Seraphina lifted her phone. Her hands were shaking. She took one photo. Just one.

The billionaire on one knee in a tuxedo, eye level with a four-year-old in a too-big suit, both holding red toy cars.

No one else in the ballroom understood what they were seeing.

Then Leo tilted his head, studying Lorenzo's face with that intense focus he got from her.

He leaned a little closer.

"You have same eyes as me," Leo whispered.