Evva's POV
The late Sunday afternoon sunlight streamed through the large windows of my SoHo penthouse, painting warm stripes across the wooden floor.
Sundays were my sanctuary. I was curled up on my velvet sofa, tea cooling beside me, jazz playing softly as I talked to Maria.
"I really miss you all," I sighed into the phone
"We miss you too, Evva," Maria's cheerful voice came through the line.
"The weekend went by way too fast.and your girls are just getting bigger and more adorable by the minute."
"Harper keeps asking when 'Auntie Evva with the pretty dresses' is coming back. And Ivy... well, she mostly just smiles at everyone, but I'm sure she misses you too!"
I chuckled. "Tell them I'll be back soon. Maybe for a longer stretch next time. I almost considered extending my stay, the weather was so glorious."
"You should have!" Maria exclaimed. "Escape the New York chill for a bit longer. But I guess the fabulous world of fashion calls you back, right?"
"It does," I admitted with a small smile.
"Anything exciting brewing?"she asked, her voice bright from LA.
"Always," I chuckled. "Seraphina is almost done, though Jackson's spreadsheets are a menace. And I'm sketching spring - pastels and flowy things, inspired by San Francisco's cherry blossoms."
"Sounds gorgeous, Evva. You always have such a unique touch." There was a pause."Oh, you know who's in your neck of the woods?"
"Hmm?" I murmured. "Who?"
"Liam," she said casually, and for a moment, my mind drew a blank. Liam... I knew a few Liams. My old college friend, Liam O'Connell... the florist I sometimes used for Atelier events...
"Liam? Liam who?" I asked, a slight frown creasing my brow.
"Liam... my Liam!" she exclaimed, a little impatient. "My husband! He's in New York for a project."
"Oh, right, of course! Liam," I said, feeling silly. "How long is he here for?"
"Just for a bit," Maria replied. "A few weeks, I think. It's a big collaboration his company is doing with... oh, what's the name?" I heard her rustling around. "Ah, yes! RusTech. You know them, right?
They're pretty well-known in New York."
"Yes, of course," I said, picturing their Midtown building. "Big tech company. What kind of project is Liam working on with them?"
"Something to do with developing the spaces for their new campus" Maria said vaguely.
"He was quite excited about it. Said it's a really innovative project."
RusTech and Davis & Co. Spaces. It made sense.
//
After her conversation with Maria, the rest of Evva's Sunday unfolded in a leisurely haze. The earlier energy of the phone call gradually dissipated, replaced by a quiet contentment.
The afternoon drifted by in a comfortable rhythm of cinematic escape.
Sometimes she would fall asleep on the couch, enjoying the quiet. She also ate whatever she felt like, like cheese and crackers, some fruit, and a simple pasta dish.
The peaceful quiet of Evva's evening was gently interrupted by the familiar ringtone of her phone. It was Grace, her childhood friend.
Though life had scattered their other close friends across the globe, Grace had remained, working at a charming little restaurant in the West Village
"Hey, Evva! What are you up to?" Grace's voice was bright and cheerful, as always, a welcome burst of energy.
"Just being gloriously lazy," Evva chuckled, stretching out on the sofa.
A healthy dose of movies and questionable snacking."
"Sounds perfect!" Grace exclaimed.
"Well, ditch the questionable snacks and put on some real clothes. I was thinking of hitting a few of the vintage shops in the East Village... right now! I just finished my shift and have the rest of the evening free. You in?"
Evva blinked, a little surprised by the spontaneity. She'd been fully embracing her Sunday sloth. But the thought of an impromptu adventure with Grace was undeniably appealing.
"Hmm," Evva said, pretending to consider it for a moment. "Sunday evening shopping? That's a tempting offer."
"Come on!" Grace pleaded playfully. "It'll be good to get out of the penthouse bubble for a bit. We can grab some amazing late-night pizza after. My treat!"
The lure of vintage finds and Grace's infectious enthusiasm, coupled with the prospect of escaping her comfortable inertia, was hard to resist.
"Okay, okay, you've convinced me," Evva laughed. "Give me twenty minutes to transform from movie-marathon-chic to something vaguely presentable."
"Perfect!" Grace chirped. "Meet you outside your building?"
"Sounds like a plan," Evva agreed, a sudden surge of energy replacing her earlier languor. "See you in a bit
as she hung up the phone.She sprang off the sofa, a newfound purpose in her steps.
Her walk-in closet, usually a carefully curated display of high fashion, but now comfort and a touch of effortless cool were the priorities.
A quick glance in the mirror confirmed the look was casual yet chic enough for a night of browsing through vintage finds.
She ran a brush through her hair, letting its natural waves fall around her shoulders, and applied a touch of lip balm and a swipe of mascara.
Slinging a crossbody bag over her shoulder, just big enough for her wallet and phone,With a final check to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything, Evva headed out of her penthouse
__________________________
Lev's POV
It was Sunday, and even I tried to slow down a bit. My work on the new tech place with Liam Davis from Davis & Co. was going smoothly.
My mother, Evelyn, and Ania were both still in the city. Ania, had a break from her university schedule for a few days.
The apartment felt a little less empty with them here.
I was reviewing some blueprints in the living room when mom approached me
"Lev," she'd said, "you know Liam Davis, don't you? From Davis & Co.?"
"Of course, Mom. We're working on the new campus together.
"Yes, yes, She paused "I thought it would be nice to have him over for dinner tonight. So, I invited him over for dinner tonight."
I frowned. "You invited Liam over? For dinner? How do you even know him?"
Mom smiled. "Oh, you know, through Isabelle. She's that lovely woman I've told you about in San Francisco? She's like a neighbor there. Liam is her son-in-law, he's married to her daughter, Maria. So whenever he visits Isabelle, I've run into him a few times. He seems like a very nice young man."
"You invited him?" I asked, still a little surprised.
"Yes," Mom said. "I thought it would be nice for you two to get to know each other better, outside of work. Since you're business partners now. He should be here around seven.
I've asked Sophia to make something simple but delicious."
My plans for a quiet Sunday evening suddenly vanished. "Mom, I didn't have anything planned for tonight, but..."
"Perfect!" Ania chimed in from the sofa, not looking up from her phone. "A little company will do you good, Lev."
Mom nodded. "Exactly".
Seven o'clock. That was just a few hours away. I hadn't expected company, especially not a business associate for a casual Sunday dinner.
I sighed. "Alright then," I said, gathering the blueprints. "Let me at least finish going over these before he gets here."
"Of course, darling," she said
//
The doorbell chimed precisely at seven. Lev, who had managed to review a significant portion of the campus blueprints, heard his mother's cheerful greeting.
"Liam, so lovely to finally have you here! Please, come in, come in." Her voice, warm and welcoming.
Lev heard the murmur of Liam's polite reply as Mom led him further inside. A few moments of light conversation followed, Mom's easy laughter punctuating the exchange. Then came the introductions.
"Liam, this is my husband, Dmitriy." Lev's father,offered a curt nod. "And this is my daughter, Ania." His younger sister, ever the social butterfly, offered Liam a bright smile.
Just as Mom seemed poised to launch into another anecdote, Lev emerged from his study. He'd swapped his casual t-shirt for a slightly more presentable sweater but kept his jeans.
"Liam," Lev said, extending a hand in a relaxed manner. "Good to see you outside of the office."
Liam stood and shook his hand firmly. "Lev, likewise. Thank you for having me."
They exchanged a few more casual remarks, the initial awkwardness of the unexpected invitation slowly dissipating. They spoke briefly about the progress of the RusTech campus, keeping the tone light and informal.
Before long, Sophia, their long-time housekeeper and maid announced that dinner was served. They moved to the elegant dining area, the city lights providing a stunning backdrop. The meal was a comfortable affair, a delicious spread prepared by Sophia.
The conversation flowed easily, touching on general topics – the city, recent news, Ania's university life. Liam was polite and engaging, and Lev found himself surprisingly at ease. Even Dmitriy offered a few quiet comments.
The dinner concluded at a comfortable pace, the clinking of silverware eventually giving way to the soft murmur of continued conversation. Once everyone had finished eating, a sense of relaxed contentment filled the room.
☆☆☆☆☆