Jacob stepped into his penthouse late that night, the weight of the evening’s confrontation with Russell sitting heavy on his shoulders. The usually calming luxury of his home did nothing to soothe his nerves. The faint scent of lavender from Sharon’s candles lingered in the air, but the once-comforting aroma now felt out of place, almost mocking.
He loosened his tie and poured himself a glass of bourbon, settling into the armchair by the window. The city lights stretched before him like a sea of opportunity, but tonight, they felt distant and unattainable.
Sharon’s absence was glaring. He had avoided thinking about it earlier, focusing on business, but now the silence was deafening. He glanced at the clock,well past midnight. She was either asleep or…
He pushed the thought aside. Sharo
