In that moment, he looked old.

The ruthless billionaire who had controlled my life for ten years was gone.

In his place was a desperate man facing a cold, empty room.

I turned my back on him and walked toward the private elevator.

As I reached the mirrored doors, the elevator chimed, indicating someone was coming up.

The digital display showed the elevator ascending from the lobby.

Daniel stood up straight, his face turning pale as he watched the numbers light up.

“Are you expecting someone?” I asked.

He didn’t answer.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his private cell phone, his fingers flying across the screen.

The elevator chimed again as it passed the twentieth floor.

The rain continued to slash against the windows, blurring the lights of the city into a wash of gray and yellow.

I stood by the doors, my hand resting on the strap of my bag, waiting for the elevator to open.

The light above the door shifted from thirty to thirty-one.

Daniel dropped his phone onto the desk.

It made a sharp, clattering sound in the silence.