The heavy weight of the emerald velvet dress was gone, but the lingering adrenaline of the dinner at the Ray estate still hummed under my skin when I woke up the next morning. The master bedroom was flooded with soft, early weekend sunlight, the sheer curtains fluttering slightly from the gentle breeze of the New York skyline.
When I walked out into the open-concept living area, the sharp, rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and maple syrup hit me instantly. Alexander was standing by the kitchen island, already dressed in a crisp, white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, though he hadn’t put on his suit jacket yet.
Stacked neatly on the marble countertop were several high-end artisanal breakfast containers from our favourite bistro, alongside a massive, heav
