Page 16 of Galen

“That’s true,” she admitted, her voice softer now, more contemplative.

“So, tell me more about yourself, Bianca,” he said, leaning back in his chair as he watched her.

The way she moved, the way her eyes darted around the room, revealed a lot about her—her nervousness, her curiosity, her desire to maintain control even in a situation where she had none.

“I work at an art gallery downtown. I’m a curator,” she began, taking a small sip of her wine.

Galen already knew this, of course. After their initial meeting, he’d had one of his hackers pull up everything there was to know about Bianca. Her life was an open book to him now, but hearing it from her lips, in her own voice, made it more intriguing.

“I’m thinking of quitting,” she confessed, her eyes dropping to the glass in her hand.

“Your job? Why?” Galen asked, genuinely curious.

From what he had gathered, she was passionate about her work. It was part of her identity.

“It’s complicated,” she replied, a hint of bitterness creeping into her tone.“My best friend—ex-best friend,” she corrected herself with a wry smile,“also works there, and she’s now with Tom, my ex-boyfriend.”

“I see,” Galen said, his voice low, watching as her expression darkened with anger. It was clear that the wound was still fresh.

“He cheated on you with her?” he asked, though he already knew the answer.

“I found them in my apartment, in our bed,” she spat out. It was clear the memory was still raw and painful to her.

Galen’s jaw tightened at her words. It wasn’t just the betrayal that bothered him, but the fact that someone had hurt her in such a way.

“Then this Tom is a fool for replacing you with someone inferior,” he said coldly.“Tell me his name and social number.”

Bianca blinked, taken aback.“For what? So you could kill him for me?”

Galen smirked..“I could make him scream for days. That could be my wedding present for you. Of course, we could also include your ex-friend,” he said.

Bianca’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard, realizing he wasn’t joking.“No …no, it’s okay. It doesn’t matter. I’ve gotten over their betrayal.”

“It’s clear you haven’t, but I can help you forget all about it,” he said, setting his glass down and moving a little closer.

The heat between them was palpable, a magnetic pull that neither of them could resist. She gazed at him, her breath hitching as she poured herself another glass of wine.

“I think I’d like that,” she whispered, her voice so soft it was almost lost in the space between them.

They continued talking as the evening progressed, their conversation drifting from one topic to another. Reynard served them dinner. To Galen’s relief, Bianca seemed to be loosening up. She even laughed at some of his remarks. It seemed she was more at ease in his presence despite the circumstances that brought her there.

After dinner, Galen opened the doors to the balcony, letting in the cool night air. Bianca stepped outside, her eyes widening in awe as she took in the view. The city stretched out before them, a sea of lights glittering in the darkness, the sounds of life below a distant murmur.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, leaning on the railing as she gazed out.

Galen joined her, standing close enough that their arms brushed.“It is,” he agreed, though his eyes were on her rather than the view.

Bianca turned to him, her expression thoughtful.“What would it be like … to be your wife?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

“What do you mean?” he asked, his gaze locked on hers.

“Do you expect me to stay home, quit my job?” she asked, searching his face for the answer.

Galen shook his head.“Although it would be dangerous, as my family has many enemies, I don’t intend to cage you. It’s clear you’re passionate about your job, so I won’t take that from you,” he explained.

Bianca studied him, the tension between them thickening with every passing second.

“And what about us? What would that be like?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

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