The following story is inspired by the novel's themes of power dynamics, class, and transactional love: The Grammar of Indifference
For the first time, Ava found herself wanting to be wanted, rather than just being "convenient." She fell for Edith’s earnestness, a trait Julian viewed as a technical flaw.
Ava stood in the middle of a high-rise apartment in Hong Kong that she didn’t pay for, looking at a man she didn't quite love. Julian was a banker who spoke in spreadsheets and "asset classes." To him, Ava was a pleasant fixture—like a high-end lamp that occasionally corrected his syntax.