Two weeks passed.
Two weeks of Sebastian Henry avoiding Solace like it was cursed.
He was managing the restaurant through phone calls, texts, and half‑hearted Zoom meetings.
Maya was pacing the apartment like a trapped animal, snapping at anyone who dared mention the tabloids when she tries to go out.
And Solace?
It was falling apart.
Sales had dropped nearly forty percent.
Regulars stopped coming.
New customers canceled reservations.
The staff whispered behind closed doors, wondering if they should start looking for new jobs.
Sebastian ignored all of it.
He stayed home, curtains drawn, phone on silent except for calls from Keith, his manager.
And Keith called a lot.
On the fifteenth day, Sebastian was losing his mind.
Keith’s voice came through immediately, frazzled and exha
