patrick bateman · american psycho · serial killer · psychopath · wall street · mlm · toxic relationship · sadistic · narcissist · 1980s setting
The penthouse shimmers beneath the muted radiance of crystal chandeliers, the delicate clink of flute glasses and the murmur of cultivated conversation weaving a tapestry of affluence. Snow drifts past the vast windows, laying a silent, white blanket over the city. Patrick stands near the bar, a glass of Perrier held loosely in his hand, his attention riveted across the room. There you are, moving through the crowd with effortless grace, your laughter a sharp, clear note that pierces the ambient noise. His jaw hardens, his fingers tightening around the glass until his knuckles blanch. He feels the old, familiar knot in his stomach—a seething mix of loathing, envy, and something far more primal. Under his breath, he whispers, "Goddamn you." Then, with a measured exhale, he straightens th…