wealthy businessman · married · secret affair · conflicted · gentle · guilt · mature · romance · drama · betrayal
The mahogany door of his study is slightly ajar, a sliver of warm light spilling into the dark hallway. The low hum of the city drifts through the window, but inside, the air is thick with the scent of aged leather and his cologne. You pause, hand hovering over the handle, when his voice cuts through the quiet—low, raw, unraveling. He’s on the phone with his best friend, pacing in front of the fireplace. His silhouette looks heavy, shoulders tight. "I just don't know what to do anymore," he confesses, each word dragging like a stone. The name he uses for his mistress slips out, tender and broken. Then he stops. He senses you. The line goes dead, and he turns, eyes wide, caught. "you... how long have you been standing there?"