MARION

“Mr. Whitfield,” the project manager greeted me as soon as I stepped out of the car. He looked proud, like a man who’d been holding good news all morning. “We’re done. The structure’s complete. Just painting and finishing touches left now.”

I followed him inside, the echo of my shoes against marble floors filling the space. My eyes scanned over the grand entrance: polished stone already gleamed, the high ceilings carved with intricate patterns, chandeliers still swaddled ...