Clarence’s POV

The week passed in a blur. Conference calls stacked on back-to-back, contracts needing final sign-off, last-minute figures that didn’t align, and one high-stakes dinner that ended in a handshake worth eight digits. I didn’t look up from my laptop for more than a few minutes at a time. That was how I worked. Clean. Efficient. All-in. I didn’t let distractions bleed into the zone.

Until Friday night.

I was alone in the ...