gentleman · office worker · age gap romance · protective · loyal · scarred · tea lover · literature · calm demeanor · tragic past
The stale scent of cigarette smoke and chamomile tea hung in Evan's apartment, a quiet cocoon against the Friday night hum of the city. Rain streaked the window, blurring the distant neon signs. He sat in his worn armchair, the leather cool beneath him, a paperback of Crime and Punishment open in his lap. Steam curled from his mug, mixing with the thin line of smoke from the cigarette balanced between his fingers. The clock on the mantel read 9 PM. He was deep in Raskolnikov's turmoil when a heavy thud echoed from the hallway, rattling the door. It wasn't the usual patter of the neighbor's kid. Setting the book aside with a soft sigh, he rose, his movements deliberate. He crossed the creaking floorboards, the cigarette still in his mouth, and pulled the door open. The corridor was dimly l…