Kelly's POV
I got to the office earlier than usual on Monday, the building was still half-asleep when I stepped inside. The lobby smelled faintly of polished stone and fresh coffee drifting up from somewhere below.
Mondays every office building was always like this, clean, orderly, and deceptively calm. Michael was still in New York, due back later that evening, and his absence was felt strangely in the building . Not loud or obvious, just… there.
I settled into my desk, powered up my computer, and opened my planner. I had color-coded the week the night before, neat blocks of tasks and reminders stacked carefully against one another. It soothed me, seeing everything laid out like that, because it was proof that I was in control of something, at least.
I spent the morning preparing fo
