Lucian parked in front of the tall glass building and sat in his car for a few seconds. His hands rested on the steering wheel, still and tense. The morning sun bounced off the windows, too bright for how he felt inside.
He finally pushed the door open and stepped out. The soft sound of his shoes against the marble floor echoed as he entered the lobby. Everything was neat, the air smelled faintly of coffee and perfume, the kind you only notice when it’s too quiet.
He walked straight to the reception desk. The young woman sitting there looked up with a polite smile. “Good morning, sir. How can I help you?”
Lucian cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. “Good morning. I’m here to see Ms. Brooks.”
Her fingers paused on the keyboard. “Do you have an appointment, sir?”
He hesitated for
