Morning arrived earlier than Iren would have liked.
The penthouse was quiet when he woke, the soft light of early day filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows in long pale streaks across the living area.
For a moment he stayed where he was, staring at the ceiling and letting the events of the previous night settle in his mind.
The corporate event.
Adrian Voss.
Kael's quiet adjustments afterward.
Something about the whole thing still felt unfinished, like a conversation that had stopped halfway through.
Eventually, routine won.
Iren got up, dressed, and stepped out into the living area.
Kael was already awake.
Of course he was.
He sat at the dining table with his tablet, posture straight, expression neutral in the way that meant he had probably been working for hours already.
A cup of coffee rested untouched beside him.
"You're up," Kael said without looking away from the screen.
