~Norman~

The early morning light filters through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse, casting long, sharp shadows across the marble. Usually, the silence of this house is something I crave, a sanctuary from the noise of the boardrooms and the constant hum of the city. But today, the silence feels empty.

I set my coffee cup down on the desk and lean back, staring at the digital clock. It’s early, but not early enough. My mind is already across town, in a small house that smells of ...