"Yes!" I replied, still giddy. "Ana Lee is a genius," I continued, my voice bubbling over with enthusiasm. I set the gown down carefully on the couch, smoothing out the skirt with reverent hands as I folded it. "Her designs are unlike anything else in the industry right now. She's one of the few designers who truly understands restraint—how to make something luxurious without making it gaudy."
Adrian watched me, his dark eyes tracking my every movement, his expression unreadable but not dismissive.
"Most designers these days think more is better," I continued, warming to my subject. I gestured with my hands, the way I always did when I talked about design. "They pile on diamonds, make everything oversized, shout for attention. But Ana Lee? She whispers. She uses tiny pearls, microscopic
