Page 78 of A Sinful Gravity

She gave me a small nod. "Morning." Then she grabbed her things and headed out. The door closed softly behind her.

I stood there, staring at that door. Stood there for maybe ten seconds. Then Laila came running down the stairs and tilted her head back to look at me.

"Did Mommy leave?"

"Yeah."

She nodded and ran into the living room to play with her blocks.

I stood by the door, suddenly unsure what to do with myself. Work? Too early.

I went to the kitchen, poured Laila some milk, cut up fruit, and put it on the coffee table.

She glanced up at me. "Thank you." Then back to her blocks.

I sat on the other end of the couch, watching her. That little golden curly head. Tiny fingers gripping blocks, stacking them one by one. She worked with such concentration, lips slightly pursed, muttering to herself now and then.

"This one goes here... no, it'll fall... put it here instead..."

I watched for a long time.

Until my phone alarm went off, reminding me I had to leave for the office.

"...so my recommendation is we pull back investment in North America in the third quarter and pivot toward Europe. What do you think?"

The sudden silence snapped me back. Everyone in the conference room was staring at me.

"Yeah," I said. "Email it to me. I'll review it."

Berkley's mouth opened, but he said nothing. Sat down.

Next up was marketing. More data, more charts. I kept nodding.

"Cassian?" Someone was calling my name.

I looked up. Marco. He sat beside me, twirling a pen, eyes full of mockery.

"What?"

"How's the marketing proposal?"

I glanced at the projection. Wall of text. I hadn't absorbed a single word.

"Good. Email it to me."

The marketing director nodded and sat down.

Finally, the last presentation ended. Berkley said, "Meeting adjourned," and everyone filed out.

I gathered my things, about to leave. Marco caught up, slinging an arm over my shoulder.

"Hey, got a minute?"

I looked at him. Didn't refuse.

We walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows at the end of the hall overlooking the city. Sunlight poured through the glass, warm against my skin. Marco pulled out a cigarette and offered me one. I waved it off. He lit his own.

"You know what they're saying around the office?" He exhaled smoke, lips quirking.