The cabin was quiet except for the soft crackle of the fire and the faint rustle of papers. Grayson sat at the wooden desk near the window, sleeves rolled up, eyes scanning through files spread neatly in front of him. Numbers, contracts, shipment schedules, things that demanded focus. Outside, snow clung to the trees, the world muted and still. He liked it this way. Peaceful. Controlled.
He closed one folder and slid it aside, leaning back in his chair. His gaze drifted to his phone resting near the edge of the desk. For a moment, he hesitated, then reached for it. The screen lit up as he dialed.
It rang twice before she answered.
“Hello?”
Her voice was soft, familiar already in a way that surprised him.
“Betty,” he said, his tone calm. “I was calling to check on you. How are you feel
