The digital clock on the dashboard of the limousine glowed a harsh, neon blue: 11:45 PM.
By the time the car finally pulled into the underground garage of Ethan’s sleek Manhattan penthouse, the oppressive heat of the city seemed to have penetrated even the concrete foundations. The air was thick, heavy, and charged with an approaching summer storm that refused to break.
Elena stepped out of the vehicle, her legs aching from a day spent under the microscope of high society. She didn't wait for Ethan. She walked straight to the private elevator, her heels echoing like hollow gunshots in the empty garage.
The elevator doors slid open into the penthouse, revealing a dark, expansive space of glass and polished concrete. The central air conditioning was hummed softly, but it did nothing to co
