Alexander hadn’t been to the office in four days, not once. His executives were panicking, like the floor was moving under them. Board meetings had been pushed back again and calls from investors went unanswered, even the calm ones.
For the first time since founding Vance Holdings…nothing really mattered because every room felt like Aurora, like a memory with lights on, every hallway carried her laughter, almost like it was still looping and every silence reminded him she was gone. full stop.
Damian entered, kind of quietly: "Alex." Nothing came back.
Alexander stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. His gaze stayed on the city below, as if it could answer: "Have you found her?"
Damian hesitated: "No."
Alexander let out a laugh that sounded wrong: "She’s really gone."
His vo
