The waiter, a man who seemed to glide silently, took their orders. Snow, still slightly flushed from her blunder, focused on the menu, pretending to deliberate when her mind was racing. Maître d' ? Seriously, Snow? She risked a glance at Andreas. He was watching her, a hint of that rare, almost-smile playing on his lips. It was disarming.
"So, Ms. White," Andreas began, his voice cutting through the soft clinking of cutlery from other tables. "What exactly does a 'Snow White' do?" He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of genuine curiosity in his stormy eyes.
Snow hesitated. Her "poisoned past" made her wary of sharing too much with anyone in the corporate world, especially someone who clearly moved in the highest circles. But there was something about Andreas, a quiet intensity, that didn't feel predatory, merely observant.
"I run a small tech startup," she answered, choosing her words carefully. "We specialize in organic beauty product development, using advanced biotechnologies. EdenTech." She mentally braced herself for the dismissive polite nod, the subtle shift in focus that usually happened when a man of his caliber realized her work wasn't in, say, high finance or venture capital.
To her surprise, Andreas leaned forward slightly. "Organic beauty tech, you say? That's... unexpected." He didn't scoff. He sounded genuinely intrigued. "What kind of advanced biotechnologies?"
Snow found herself relaxing, a strange sense of ease settling over her. She began to explain, her passion for EdenTech shining through. She talked about sustainable sourcing, microbial fermentation for active ingredients, and the complex algorithms they developed to ensure purity and efficacy. She even briefly touched on the challenges of competing with larger, more established companies.
Andreas listened, his gaze unwavering, occasionally interjecting with surprisingly insightful questions that showed a keen understanding of both technology and market dynamics. He wasn't just being polite; he was actually listening. And processing. And understanding. It was a rare and intoxicating experience for Snow.
"Fascinating," he murmured, after she finished explaining a particularly complex process. "So, you're not just creating products, you're building a new kind of ecosystem. A truly ethical approach."
Snow felt a warmth spread through her chest. He got it. He actually got it. For the first time in years, she felt truly seen, not as the victim of a corporate scandal, but as the innovative force behind EdenTech.