The sleek hum of the city buzzed faintly beyond the tall windows of Andrew’s office, but inside, the atmosphere was all steel and silence. Papers were stacked neatly on one side of the desk. His phone buzzed intermittently. But Andrew barely noticed. His thoughts were elsewhere—circling back to a messy halo of curls on a pillow, the sound of a child’s laugh, and the quiet weight of a secret strand of hair tucked into a drawer.
A knock broke the stillness.
“Come in,” he called, voice smooth but distant.
The door opened and Brad walked in, looking like he always did—confident, pressed to perfection, and armed with legal briefs under one arm. He flashed a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. There was tension there, but it was hidden under the usual banter.
“Morning, boss,” Brad said, s
