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“What am I supposed to do?” I asked, my voice raw. “How do I even begin to move past this?”
“Live your life,” Michael said, leaning against the doorframe, his gaze steady on mine. “Either she comes back to you, or she doesn’t.”
“How’s that working out for you?” I retorted, the words sharper than I intended.
Michael’s expression flickered with pain, but he didn’t look away. “I’ve accepted it. I love Morgan, but eventually, I’ll need to move on, and you should do the same.”
“Easier said than done,” I muttered, staring into the water as if it held answers.
Michael didn’t respond, and the silence between us grew heavy, filled with unspoken fears and the weight of our shared heartache. I knew he was right, but the thought of letting go felt like ripping my heart out of my chest.
I leaned back on the chaise, closing my eyes as the ache settled deeper into my bones. “Easier said than done,” I repeated, the words a hollow echo in the stillness of the room.
Eight days, six hours, and fourteen minutes. That was how long it had been since I last talked to Erika. No calls, no texts, no communication at all. The silence was suffocating, gnawing at me every second I wasn’t distracted by work. The only thing keeping me from unraveling completely was the constant grind—immersing myself in clients, hammering out deals. In the past week alone, I’d negotiated two sales that racked up almost three hundred thousand in commissions. But the money felt hollow. I would trade it all in a heartbeat if it meant I could have her back.
Whenever I wasn’t laser-focused on work, my mind inevitably drifted to Erika. Little things haunted me—the way her hair curled around her face like it was meant to frame her beauty, the husky tone of her voice when she spoke to me first thing in the morning, the way her skirt clung to her hips as she walked. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that we were over.
For the first time in weeks, I decided to head into the office. William Reeder Real Estate was a powerhouse in the luxury property market, one of the top sellers of seven-figure homes across the five boroughs and Long Island. William, the man behind the empire, trusted me enough not to require my presence unless absolutely necessary. I made good money for the company, and he left me alone because of it. But today, I needed to escape the suffocating solitude of my apartment. It helped that I didn’t have any showings until the evening.
When I arrived, the office was quieter than usual. Most agents were in and out, driven by the demands of their clients. I was one of the few who had an actual office with a door. It might’ve been glass, but at least it provided some semblance of privacy. The furnishings were stark white, matching the walls, and my desk, made of smoked glass, reflected my legs beneath it. I’d dressed casually today—blue slacks and a light blue dress shirt—but I still felt out of place, like I was wearing a mask that didn’t fit anymore.
Settling in, I pulled my laptop from my black bag and started reviewing the listings for the evening. My clients were from Florida, and the wife had her heart set on something overlooking the Hudson River. I found several promising options and contacted the listing agents to finalize the details. As I squared away my business for the evening, a shadow fell across my desk.
I looked up to see William Reeder standing in the doorway, his tall frame draped in a charcoal gray Vera Lucci suit that probably cost more than some people’s monthly mortgages. His white shirt was open at the collar, giving him a casual yet commanding presence. With his shock of white hair and matching mustache, he reminded me of a tall, polished Colonel Sanders. His bright blue eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled.
“Lincoln, it’s been too long,” William greeted, his voice warm but probing.
“Sir,” I replied, standing up as a reflex. “I’m sorry. I’ve been busy.”
William waved off my apology with a dismissive hand. “I’m not questioning your absence. It’s obvious you’ve been working hard—your commission reports speak for themselves. I think you’re on track to be our top agent this quarter.”
“Thank you,” I said, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.
“I was wondering if you’re up for lunch today?” he asked, stepping inside and leaning casually against the glass wall.
I hesitated, knowing I wasn’t in the right headspace for small talk, or the kind of probing questions William was known for. “I’m really not,” I finally replied, searching for an excuse. “I have an appointment with my brother, Michael.”
William’s expression softened. “How is he? Adjusting to being home?”
“Yes, my mother’s ecstatic,” I said, trying to deflect.
“It must have been hard for your family,” he remarked, his eyes searching mine for something deeper.
“It was,” I admitted, though the weight of my own emotional turmoil was making it hard to focus. “But we’re on the mend.”
“Good to hear,” William said, giving me a nod. “Let’s schedule a lunch soon.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied, the words empty even to my own ears. “Looking forward to it.”
William nodded again, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before he turned to leave, closing the glass door behind him. Not that it mattered—anyone could still look inside and see what I was doing. I didn’t really have a lunch planned with my brother. I’d lied because William liked to pry, and I couldn’t afford to let him see how close I was to falling apart. I didn’t even trust myself to keep it together if he pushed any further.
As the door clicked shut, I slumped back into my chair, the weariness settling into my bones. I stared at the laptop screen, but the words blurred together. The office was too quiet, too empty, and the silence only amplified the ache inside me. I needed to get out, needed to do something—anything—to escape the gnawing sense of loss that was slowly consuming me.
But all I could do was sit there, pretending I was okay when everything inside me was screaming that I wasn’t.
“On a clear day, you can see for miles,” I remarked, my voice carrying the practiced enthusiasm of a seasoned real estate agent.
Estelle Kellerman, her eyes wide with excitement, practically pressed her nose against the tall windows overlooking the city. “Oh, I love the view! You can even see New Jersey from here!”
