Adrian's Point Of View
I strode out of the elevator, the soft hum of its machinery fading behind me as my gaze instinctively darted toward Emma’s desk. Empty. Of course, it was. Today marked the last of her approved off days. She had insisted on returning two days after Brandon’s funeral, but I refused. Emma deserved more than a rushed return to the mundane chaos of work. Grief wasn’t something that could be tidied up and shelved away like office files. And yet, I found myself missing her presence more than I wanted to admit.
Work hadn’t felt the same these past few days. Hell, life hadn’t felt the same. The end of the workday had become my sanctuary, a time when I could let my mind wander toward thoughts of be returning home to her.
The familiar sight of my office greeted me, but I sto
