The building grew quieter as the evening settled in. Most of the executive floor had emptied, leaving behind a low hum of distant activity and the steady glow of office lights that never fully turned off. Ashford Tower did not sleep, but it did slow down, and in that slower rhythm, everything felt more exposed.
Long after reviewing the last report, Seraphina lingered in the private office. She had completed the documents in front of her, and she had already made the day's decisions. There was nothing left that required her attention. Still, she did not leave.
This was not about work anymore. It was about distance. As long as she stayed within the structure of tasks and responsibilities, she could maintain control. The moment she stepped away from that structure, she would have to face what Lucien's words had done. And she was not certain she was ready for that.
