Even before people recognized his face, they recognized his presence, the quiet authority of a man who didn’t need to announce himself because success had already done it for him. James moved through the crowd with easy confidence, offering brief nods and smiles, acknowledging greetings without lingering, until his eyes found mine.
His face broke into a genuine grin.
“Sophia,” he said, pulling me into a warm embrace that felt startlingly real compared to the air-kisses happening elsewhere. “You look incredible.”
Before I could respond, he raised his voice just enough to carry beyond us, not shouting, not boasting, just speaking with the natural projection of someone used to being heard.
“So tell me,” he continued cheerfully, “how’s life in that one-point-five-million-dollar house you bought? Still enjoying Sterling Heights? I keep telling people you timed the market perfectly.”
The effect was immediate and absolute.
