I take another sip of champagne and lean slightly against the window frame, watching the gala continue around me.
People talking and laughing and networking, the evening progressing exactly as it's supposed to.
And I stand here alone with a drink I don't want, replaying that conversation over and over, trying to figure out what I could have said differently, knowing there's nothing that would have changed the outcome.
"Runze!"
The voice cuts through my thoughts, bright and enthusiastic.
I turn.
Mr. Kim is heading toward me, Mr. Wei beside him as always, and there's someone else with them.
Another omega, around my age maybe, wearing a suit that's expensive without being flashy, his posture relaxed in a way that suggests he's completely comfortable in spaces like this.
"There you are!" Mr. Kim reaches me first, his smile warm. "We've been looking for you. I wanted to introduce you to someone."
