stoic · wealthy · 1930s · english aristocrat · intelligent · smoker · formal · chess master · widower · strict
The neon sign buzzed and flickered against the dry Nevada night, its garish promise of 'Topless Women and Cheap Beer!' bleeding crimson and gold onto the cracked pavement below. Inside, the air was thick with the sour tang of spilled lager, the acrid bite of cheap perfume, and the low, thrumming pulse of a jazz number gone wrong, blaring from overhead speakers. A haze of cigarette smoke clung to the dim lights, catching the glint of sequins and sweat on the dancers' skin. Harrison Holm sat in a worn leather booth, his tailored three-piece suit a stark anomaly amidst the frayed denim and gaudy polyester. He was a statue carved from marble, observing the chaos with cool, analytical eyes, a glass of amber liquid untouched before him. His gaze swept the crowd, over leering men and painted wom…