(Christian's pov)
In the late afternoon, the award for Grey Enterprises Holdings' monumental efforts in the recycling industry gets announced. Graceful as ever, Christian makes his way up to the podium of the impressive amphitheater, which is packed to capacity. The sea of people claps a roaring applause and he allows himself a glimmer of pride. His company has excelled in this field.
"Ladies and gentlemen," his voice rings strong and clear, carrying effortlessly to the very back. "Thank you for this magnificent honor. It is Grey Enterprises' sincerest hope that as the technology that sprang from these projects becomes widely available, all of industry will follow and we'll finally be in a position to put our planet and its resources on a sustainable track." As he lifts the award into the air, the press laps up the money shot, the snapping of pictures flashing like fireworks. The audience rises to a standing ovation as the deafening applause echoes off the well-designed acoustics. Walking off the stage, he wonders how happy he would have felt about reaching this very impressive goal if he could have shared his triumph with her...
After making the rounds past some tables to shake hands with various well-wishers, he catches Taylor's eye. He jerks his chin in the direction of an exit, prompting Taylor to cut through the crowd to join his boss for their departure.
"Sir, if I may?" Taylor stops just a few paces outside the exit, looking intently at Christian. When somber gray eyes turn to face him, he speaks his mind for a rare moment. "Well done, sir. What you achieved here today, it's monumental. Please take a moment to savor it." Taylor's expression is burning with sincerity, but Christian can only see pity in its depths. He knows that Taylor is the only one who's glimpsed the size of the hole in his heart since she left.
"Thank you, Jason," he pauses, "for everything." Christian's gaze slices away from Taylor, effectively ending the brief connection between them. He's not in the mood to dwell on sentimentality; fuck knows he gets enough of that shit thinking about her.
