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He looked up as she entered, his lips curling into a small, knowing smile. As though he had been waiting for this moment all along.

“Anna,” he said, his voice low but warm, “I’m glad you came.”

Anna hesitated for a second, before walking over to join him. The same unease she had felt outside resurfaced, but she quickly brushed it off.

“It’s been a while,” she said softly, settling into the chair opposite him. “You look... different.”

He shrugged, his expression unreadable but with a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I suppose time changes people. I mean look at you — you’re an adult now. More composed, more focused. And might I add, even more charming than I remember. You’ve grown into your beauty and intellect, Anna.”

Anna felt a flush creep up her neck at his unexpected compliment, but she quickly masked it with a smile. She hadn’t really paid much attention to her appearance since diving into her work at the lab. Most days, her focus was entirely on research — no time for makeup, no time for anything but equations and experiments. And relationships? Those had always felt like a distant thought. But tonight, for some reason, she had made an effort. She’d applied a little makeup, just enough to enhance her features without going overboard. A soft touch of mascara made her blue eyes stand out more, and a bit of lipstick added warmth to her pale complexion. She wore a dress that made her feel sophisticated, and the subtle confidence in how it fit her made her feel more like herself than she had in years. If she let her hair down, the soft waves would frame her face just right — something she had never really thought about much in the chaos of her career. It was funny, though, how she could feel like the woman she was becoming when she was allowed to pause and just be. She knows if she wanted to, she could be magnetic, effortlessly pulling people in with her charm.

"Thank you," She didn't often receive compliments like that, and even though she wasn’t used to them, there was something about Julian’s presence that made her feel comfortable.

Her eyes, however, couldn’t help but wander back to him. Julian had changed, and it wasn’t just the suit or the polished look. There was a refined elegance about him now that hadn't been there before. His suit was impeccable, tailored perfectly to his frame. The deep navy fabric, with its subtle sheen under the dim lighting, highlighted the quiet strength in his posture. A crisp white shirt peeked out from beneath the jacket, and his tie was dark, understated, but undoubtedly expensive — just enough to draw attention to his sophistication without screaming for it.