Breaking the ice
Adrian navigated the crowd with practiced ease, nodding politely but keeping his expression entirely neutral.
Ethan stood by the bar, his hand gripping a glass of sparkling water so tightly the glass slightly groaned. He watched Adrian approach, his heart doing a painful, familiar flutter that he desperately tried to suppress.
"Ethan," Adrian said as he stopped a polite two feet away. He didn't reach out to shake hands. His blue eyes were cool, professional, and entirely guarded. "The turnout is impressive. The sponsors are very pleased with the brand visibility."
"Thank you, Captain Hayes," Ethan replied, his voice laced with a polite, icy formality that made Adrian’s jaw twitch. "I’m glad