ALARIC
After the last important meeting of the day, I finally allowed myself to stop pretending. I wasn’t focused on the files in front of me—my mind had long since wandered elsewhere—but that didn’t matter anymore.
I stood, straightened my blazer, and addressed my assistants, who were still quietly working at their desks. “You all are free to go. If you don’t have any deadlines to meet.” My voice was calm, measured, but there was an underlying lightness I couldn’t hide.
They blinked at me, obviously shocked. Three hours early, and here I was, abandoning the office without a single hint of work left undone.
I gave them a faint smile and turned toward the elevator. Their expressions didn’t change as I walked away; they simply stared, clearly trying to process what had just happened. I d
