Page 26 of Sexted By a Stranger
Lennox was already waiting in the portico. Seeing us emerge, he immediately opened the rear door respectfully.
Luca released my hand, letting me enter first. Then he sat beside me, our shoulders touching, his presence instantly filling every inch of space.
Twenty minutes later, the car stopped before a brightly lit building. Massive glass walls reflected the city lights. At the entrance stood an elegant sign: Venus's Eye - Contemporary Fine Jewelry Art Exhibition.
Blood instantly rushed to my fingertips, bringing a slight tingling. This was the place I'd seen countless times in magazines, fantasized about entering in dreams—gathering the latest works from the world's top designers, the holy grail of jewelry design.
I turned to him in disbelief. Luca had already exited, extending his hand to me.
"Let's go."
Inside the vast exhibition hall, lighting was carefully sculpted into soft spotlights. Dazzling jewelry pieces were housed in individual bulletproof glass cases, emanating intoxicating brilliance under the lights. The air carried a unique blend of expensive agarwood, leather, and the jewelry's own cool essence.Well-dressed guests conversed in low voices, moving with elegant steps.
"Oh my!" I stopped at the first display case, unable to look away.
It was a brooch.
"Platinum Grain's Neptune's Drop." The words burst out in barely a whisper. "The texture of these vines, this layering and light-shadow effect, and the color saturation, it's perfect!" I pressed against the glass, almost forgetting someone else was there.
But Luca wasn't looking at the brooch at all. His gaze rested quietly on my face, as if finding more brilliant refractions there.
"Not bad," he affirmed softly.
I belatedly felt my ears burn. But he lifted his chin. "Go on."
Those two words were like pressing a switch. I moved forward, steps growing faster, language unable to keep up with my eyes.
Luca stayed half a step behind. He didn't interrupt or agree, only making a small nod when I spoke disjointedly, like a distant lighthouse's response. When I pointed to some detail, his gaze would follow my fingertips.
His tall, quiet form blocked all prying or curious looks for me, like an invisible barrier keeping the noise outside.
"Luca?"
Just as I was marveling at an antique necklace full of Eastern charm, an elegant female voice sounded behind us.
I turned.
Isabella Winston.
Cream wool-satin pantsuit, shoulder line sharp as light. Silver-gray hair tucked behind her ears, revealing a mother-of-pearl profile. She stood three steps away, smiling at us with warm certainty.
My breath caught—that was the face I'd cut from magazines and pasted in the center of my inspiration board for four whole years.
"Luca," her tone was familiar, but her gaze fell on me. "Won't you introduce this spiritually striking young lady? Seems you've discovered a pearl."
Luca stepped forward half a pace, lightly circling my waist. "Sheila Stella, my new assistant." His gaze fell on my face, flushed with excitement and nerves, lips curving in the faintest arc as he added, "She indeed has remarkable talent and passion."
"Ms. Winston." Massive surprise and nervousness left me instantly flustered. "H-hello. I-I never expected—"
Isabella approached, her gaze sweeping over my hand still suspended in mid-air. She smiled. "Your insights are very unique. Especially your understanding of enamel techniques—very thorough."
"Y-yes. I just love your Stardust Traces series from last year so much. The asymmetric orbital structure, turning celestial randomness into wearable mechanics..."
"Thank you." Her smile deepened as she extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Sheila."
I was overwhelmed with honor, quickly grasping her hand with both of mine. "Meeting you is my honor."
The next ten minutes passed like an incredible dream. With Luca's setup, I actually had a brief conversation about jewelry design with Isabella. I gathered the courage to share my thoughts. She nodded slightly after listening and said, "Sheila, you really have potential."
