Nathaniel’s POV
The city never really sleeps in Manhattan. Even at night, the streets outside my Favorite café glowed with light and sound, yellow cabs honking impatiently, street vendors packing away carts, neon signs bumbling in tired colours.
The sidewalks pulsed with hurried footsteps, conversations in dozens of accents, and laughter spilling out from bars. Manhattan wasn’t gentle; it pressed against you, alive and demanding.
I sat at the far corner table of the Lumen café, my favorite spot for outside office meetings, laptop open but my focus scattered. Around me, my team filled the space with rustling papers, half-empty mugs, and quiet arguments over figures. The table looked less like a workspace and more like a warzone of spreadsheets, pens, and pastry crumbs.
Amelia’s voice r
