Alec sat in the center of his massive dining table, the early morning sunlight filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a cold glow across the room. His plate was a calculated display of health—sliced avocado, fruits arranged like a piece of art, bread toasted to golden perfection, a glass of juice untouched at the side. Despite the elegance of the spread, his focus was elsewhere. His right hand held his phone, scrolling rapidly, while his left casually tapped at his tablet.
The room was silent except for the occasional clink of cutlery or shifting feet of the maids and chefs who stood lined up along the edges of the room, waiting—watching him the way prey might watch a sleeping lion, afraid to breathe too loudly. None of them dared to move unless he gave a signal.
Then ca
