THE GATHERING II

Linda appeared beside us then, her presence a calming influence as she made sure everything was running smoothly. "You two are doing great," she said, her voice low, almost to herself.

I smiled in response, grateful for her reassurance. The evening had gone better than I expected—Mark and I had navigated the conversations, the forced affection, the subtle dances around investors' expectations, and somehow, it hadn't all been a disaster. It was a strange, delicate balance, but I'd managed to hold my own.

Before I could fully process Linda's words, Mark was already stepping away to speak with someone across the room. He barely looked at me, his attention immediately consumed by whatever business was demanding it now.