“Henry Ponder.”
Sofia blinked. “Henry Ponder,” she repeated lightly. “That’s a really nice name.”
He chuckled, swirling the drink in his glass. “Yeah. I hear that sometimes.”
She smiled. “Well, it suits you.”
Henry leaned back, watching her with a quiet curiosity that wasn’t heavy or flirtatious, just observant. Almost grateful.
“So,” he said, “what are you doing after work?”
She laughed softly. “After work? I usually go home and collapse on my bed. I work until almost daylight most nights. I don’t have energy for anything else.”
“That makes sense,” he nodded. “Still… whenever you’re free. Later today. Weekend. Whenever.” He rubbed a finger along the rim of his glass. “Would you be open to… I don’t know, to meeting up?”
Sofia’s brows lifted. “Meeting up, how?”
He immediately shook
