Ren froze mid-stride, tray balanced perfectly in one hand. The clatter of silverware and soft jazz from the speakers suddenly felt miles away.
Victoria Morgenstern sat alone at table twelve, posture regal, emerald eyes scanning the menu with practiced calm. Her hair was swept into an elegant chignon, and the pearl necklace gleamed under the chandelier light.
She looked exactly as he remembered, older, sharper, but still carrying that same unyielding aura that once made entire rooms fall silent with her business suit.
Their eyes met for the briefest second.
Ren's heart slammed against his ribs. Recognition flashed in her gaze, clear, unmistakable, then vanished. She blinked once, slowly, and returned to the menu as if he were just another server.
She didn't call out. Didn't gasp. Didn't even twitch.
Ren swallowed the lump in his throat and forced his legs to move. He approached the table with the same practiced smile he'd worn all night.
