He lounged in his office, the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, stretching shadows over the tiles. Other than the muffled noise from the city outside, the office was completely still. His hands were clasped tightly together, his elbows resting on the edge of his mahogany desk. He lowered his head, rubbing his temples like he was trying to chase away a headache.
He wasn't his usual calm self; for the first time in ages, he felt... off-balance. A name reverberated through his mind—Axel. The image of Raelynn holding that damned rose and smiling softly as she talked about how kind and funny the man was. Elion's jaw clenched tightly, the memory stirring something deep and unpleasant within him.
He exhaled sharply and straightened, reaching for his phone on the desk. He turned his phone over in his hands, its cold surface grounding him as he searched through the contacts.
