|Katherine|
I shut my eyes tightly, forcing myself to release the tight coil of tension coiled in my shoulders. Slowly, I rolled them in careful, circular motions, letting the stiffness ease with each rotation. A sharp inhale filled my lungs, momentarily clearing my mind, and I leaned back against the supportive frame of my ergonomic chair. The small pillow cradling my neck offered an almost guilty comfort—I didn’t often allow myself these moments of pause.
I wasn’t sure how long I stayed like that, suspended between exhaustion and relief, before the soft, familiar creak of the office door reached my ears. I didn’t move at first, letting the sound wash over me, part curiosity, part resignation.
“All done?”
His deep baritone floated gently across the room, the kind of voice that seemed
