Man at War – Excerpt No. 153

10 February 2026

The redhead eyes transitioned from what appeared to be a notebook and moved onto the dark haired beauty. The transition from surprise, annoyance, and settling on surprise was quick and honest. Whatever she was doing it was her world until I walked by.

“Everything okay?” the Georgian asked.

Evelyn took a moment to remove her broken shoe followed closely by the other. The carpeting is surprisingly plush.

“Oui,” Evelyn replied after sending a puff of air to clear out a strand of stray hair. (Yes.) “I’m sorry, have I disturbed you?”

a cinematic photo of a redhead woman with pale skin and delicate features, wearing a utilitarian dress with a high collar and long sleeves, reading from a worn leather notebook, while sitting in a plush velvet booth with intricate wooden carvings, located in a lavish lounge with ornate chandeliers and richly patterned carpets, the atmosphere is sophisticated and elegant, with soft golden lighting, the woman's dress and the setting are reminiscent of 1915, with a mix of art nouveau and Edwardian styles, the overall mood is one of quiet contemplation and refinement, in a warm and inviting color palette, with earthy tones and rich textures, photography.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.