Aria's POV
I hesitated, suddenly aware of how intently he was looking at me. Not in a predatory way, exactly, but... focused. Like he was trying to place me.
"I don't think so," I said carefully. "This is my first industry summit."
Julian's assistant murmured something to him, and he blinked, then offered an apologetic smile. "Forgive me. It's just... I have this strange sense of familiarity when I look at you. Like we've crossed paths before."
I'd heard that line a hundred times at events like this. It was usually a precursor to some weak attempt at flirting.
But something about the way Julian said it felt... different. There was genuine confusion in his expression, like he couldn't quite figure out why I seemed familiar.
But I wasn't about to make it awkward. I offere
