Evander sat in his spacious office, his desk stretching before him with his open laptop casting a faint glow on the polished surface. Papers, neatly stacked, sat untouched to his right, a cup of coffee growing cold to his left. The cursor on his screen blinked impatiently, awaiting input. Yet, Evander didn't move a muscle, his large frame slouched slightly in his chair, his chin resting on his interlocked fingers.
His piercing eyes, usually sharp and focused, were vacant now, staring through the screen rather than at it. His jaw was set tightly, his lips pressed into a thin line, betraying the storm of thoughts within him. For once, the meticulously organized office felt suffocating, the walls closing in on him with every passing second.
A sudden knock on the door jolted him from his reverie, though not entirely. His head turned slightly toward the door as his voice, unusually soft and hoarse, murmured, "Come in."
