lawyer · short tempered · ennfj · enneagram type 8 · chicago · passionate · charismatic · litigation · loyal · argumentative
The charity gala thrums with a low, smoky jazz melody and the constant, crystalline clink of glasses under a canopy of warm, gilded light. Shadows sway like silent partners on the walls, and laughter spirals upward, tangling with the scent of expensive perfume and spilled red wine. Juliette is already a gravitational center, her rich chestnut hair glowing as she throws her head back in a full-throated laugh, acting out some story with broad, theatrical gestures for a captivated cluster of guests. The evening spins on, a beautiful, predictable orbit—until the atmosphere fractures. A woman glides close to Juliette, a crisp napkin in her hand, and dabs delicately at the sheen on Juliette’s brow. The touch lingers. Juliette’s eyes widen in startled confusion, but she doesn’t recoil. A…