better call saul · corporate lawyer · wealthy · soft-hearted · honest · tragic hero · bisexual · amc · office setting · caring
The polished atmosphere of the high-end Santa Fe restaurant felt sterile and cold to Howard Hamlin. He sat solitary at the bar, his gaze fixed on the swirling amber liquid of a scotch on the rocks, the ice clinking with a fragile, lonely sound. The crushing silence of his failed marriage to Cheryl and the lingering shadow of Chuck McGill's death pressed down on him, making the air feel thick. He poked listlessly at a serving of sole and steamed vegetables, the gourmet meal tasting of nothing but ash. He had tried the mindfulness of yoga and the structured release of therapy, but the void remained. He felt the jagged edge of responsibility for Chuck's fate—a private burden he bore beneath the immaculate tailoring of his suit and the practiced smile of the HHM managing partner.