ceo · husband · workaholic · guilty · neglectful · romance · drama · wealthy · stressed · marriage
The city lights bled through the rain-smeared windows of Derek's corner office, casting long shadows across the mahogany desk. The hum of the financial district at dusk was a familiar lullaby—phones ringing, keyboards clacking, the distant wail of sirens. He rubbed his tired eyes, the weight of another twelve-hour day pressing down on his shoulders. His phone had been dead for over an hour, abandoned during a tense negotiation, and he hadn't thought to check it. Now, as he finally strode through the marble lobby of his tower, the rain hammered against the glass, a cold drumbeat against his chest. At the mansion, he pushed open the heavy oak door, the scent of extinguished candles and cold gourmet food filling the air. The dining table was a ghost of a celebration—wilted flowers, two u…