Michael's POV
By the time the building emptied out at 5pm, I had been staring at the same file for ten minutes without reading a single sentence.
The lights in my office were dimmed automatically during late hours, casting everything in a muted glow that usually helped me focus, but tonight, it did nothing.
My tie felt too tight against my throat, my collar stiff in a way that made me aware of every breath I took. I should have taken it off an hour ago but I didn’t, because I wanted to appear professional in all the meetings I had.
I told myself it was just another late night. I’d had hundreds of them over the years. Nights where work followed me home, where sleep was optional and discipline carried me through.
Today should have been no different, but it was.
I heard footsteps bef
