The familiar hum of activity in my office building greeted me as Collins and I stepped out of the elevator. The marble lobby buzzed with employees arriving for another day of work, their respectful nods and warm smiles a testament to the company culture my father had built and I had maintained.
"I'll pick you up at six," Collins said, his hand resting gently on the small of my back as we walked toward the executive elevator bank.
"Perfect," I replied, turning to face him. "That gives me time to finish the quarterly reviews and maybe squeeze in a quick call with the Tokyo office."
He leaned down and kissed my cheek softly. "Have a wonderful day, Mrs. Walter."
"You too, Mr. Walter," I smiled, watching as he headed back toward the main elevators.
The executive floor felt different today,
