"How old are you, Mr. Garrel?" Marienne asked as they stepped out of the elevator, their footsteps echoing softly down the opulent hallway. "Can I call you Gabriel?"
"I'm twenty-five," he replied, flashing her a smile that reached his eyes. "And yes, you can call me by my first name—especially since you're older."
He let the last word linger like a thorn, and it landed precisely as intended. Marienne's expression tightened for a fleeting second before she recovered, masking the irritation with another of her carefully composed smiles.
"I only asked because I know you're still single," she said smoothly, gesturing for him to enter the suite behind her. "It makes me wonder why. You're easy on the eyes, charming, and your background is flawless. Anyone would be lucky to date you."
