“You’re not helpless, Cheryl,” Dennis said, his voice firm but gentle. He reached out, his hand briefly covering hers, a gesture of pure, uncomplicated support. 

“You’re resilient. You’re one of the most talented, most dedicated artists I know. This is designed to make you feel helpless, to make you doubt yourself. Don’t let it.”

He then rose, moving methodically around the studio. He examined the fried distillation unit, his brow furrowed in concentration. 

“This looks like a deliberate overload, not just a surge. Someone would have had to bypass the safety protocols.” He then inspected the broken atomizer, carefully picking up shards. “And this… this wasn’t an accident. It was forced.”

His calm, logical approach was a balm to her frayed nerves. He didn’t dismiss her suspicions; he validated them with practical observation. 

“I can get our facilities team to look at the wiring, see if there’s any evidence of tampering. And I’ll talk to the suppliers about those incorrect materials. 

We can put a flag on your orders, ensure everything is double-checked before it leaves their warehouse.”

He moved to her computer, checking her digital files. “And for your formulas, let’s set up a cloud-based backup with version control. That way, if anything is altered, we’ll have a timestamped record of the original. It won’t stop someone from changing it, but it will give you proof, and you can always revert.”

Cheryl watched him, a profound sense of relief washing over her. He wasn’t just offering platitudes; he was offering solutions, tangible steps to regain control. 

He was a lighthouse in her storm, steady and unwavering.

“Thank you, Dennis,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I… I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He turned, a warm, genuine smile gracing his lips. “You wouldn’t have to do it without me, Cheryl. That’s the point. This project, this gala, it’s important. And you’re important. Your vision is extraordinary, and it deserves to be protected.” 

His eyes held hers, a clear, open admiration shining within them. “You have this incredible ability to translate the vastness of the cosmos into something so intimate, so personal. It’s truly breathtaking. And to see you facing these challenges with such grace, despite the frustration… it just makes me admire you even more.”

His words, so direct and heartfelt, resonated deeply. Louis, for all his artistic brilliance and the intoxicating pull he exerted, rarely offered such clear, unambiguous praise, let alone such steadfast support in a crisis. 

His admiration was often unspoken, communicated through shared artistic understanding or a rare, vulnerable glance. But Dennis’s admiration was a warm embrace, a comforting blanket on a cold night.

As Dennis continued to troubleshoot, making calls, sending emails, and patiently explaining technical details, Cheryl found herself observing him with a new perspective. He was reliable, kind, and utterly devoted to ensuring her success. 

He saw her, truly saw her, not just as an artist, but as a person deserving of care and protection.