Elsa sat on the couch, her eyes fixed on the TV screen, but her mind was miles away. It kept drifting back to Jordin—a man who radiated a mature, quiet authority.
She couldn't stop thinking about her life and the money he had given her. It solved her immediate problems, but a lingering discomfort gnawed at her. She hated the idea of using flings to secure financial stability. Yet, she kept reassuring herself that it was purely a transaction—a temporary sacrifice for the sake of money.
And then there was the sex itself. She hated admitting it, even to herself, but it was tempting. The physical reality of it felt good, even as the fear of anyone finding out made her stomach turn. As long as it was strictly with Jordin, she told herself, it was manageable. Thinking of him left her with a strange, numb acceptance. He was meticulous and respectful about their encounters, always making sure to wear a condom. Whenever he rolled one on, Elsa would look away, pretending to focus on anything else out of sheer embarrassment for what she was doing.
On paper, everything about their arrangement felt mechanical, almost neutral. But when they were actually together, her body betrayed her resolve. The pleasure was intoxicating—so overwhelming at times that she completely lost her train of thought.
She was so caught up in her own head that she didn't even notice when Lucy walked into the living room and sat down on the adjacent couch, quietly munching on a bag of chips while watching the show.
Across town, in the heart of the tech district where towering glass skyscrapers reflected a brilliant blue sky, Nicholas Wayne sat behind his executive desk. A man with mature, sharp features, dark hair, and steady brown eyes, he twirled a pen between his fingers as he decided to call his younger brother, Silas. It had been a while since they had caught up, and he had a few questions on his mind.
In another part of the city, Silas was stretched out on a long couch, idly scrolling through his phone with a discarded book lying beside him. When his phone buzzed, he glanced at the caller ID: Nick.
"Sup, Silas. How've you been?"
"Good. How about you, Nick?"
Nicholas leaned back in his leather chair. "Fine. What are you up to?"
"Not much."
"I heard a rumor you retired," Nicholas said, a hint of skepticism in his voice. He found it hard to believe his younger brother was stepping back so early.
"Yeah," Silas replied easily. "It's been a little while now."
"So I heard," Nick said.
"Things are running smoothly, and I don't have to be hands-on as much these days," Silas explained. "Plus, I'm getting older. Figured it was time to focus on other things."
Even in retirement, Silas didn't have to worry about money. He had built an empire—revenue was still pouring in from his wine refinery and his high-end men's tailoring line. Business was thriving.
Lucky little Silas, Nick thought to himself. A subtle flicker of jealousy touched his chest. He was nine years older than Silas, yet here his younger brother was, already calling it quits while Nick was still grinding away.
"I see," Nick said, still digesting the thought of Silas's early retirement.
"How's work on your end?" Silas asked, genuinely wanting to hear about his brother's progress.
"Good," Nick replied. "The company is advancing, growing steadily."
"That's great to hear," Silas said.
Nick paused, wondering how his brother planned to fill his days. In the Wayne family, they had been raised on the idea that success required constant forward movement. Idleness simply wasn't in their DNA.
"Are you planning on staying single?" Nick asked, shifting the subject. He knew about Silas's painful breakup with Catelyn a few months back.
"Probably," Silas said smoothly. "Honestly, I've come to like having my own space."
Nick chuckled softly. He had his own anchor—a wife and two kids waiting for him at home. It gave him a sense of fulfillment he wouldn't trade for anything, and he couldn't imagine life without a family.
"You should probably keep an eye out for someone who actually fits you," Nick offered, his tone softening with quiet concern. "No rush, though. Take your time."
"Is there even anyone like that out there?" Silas asked quietly. Deep down, he doubted he could ever feel that way about anyone other than Catelyn.
"I don't know," Nick said earnestly. "But there are plenty of fish in the sea. Just keep your options open."
Silas appreciated that his brother wanted him to settle down and be happy, but finding genuine love—someone who loved him for who he was, not his wealth—was easier said than done. "I'll think about it. Whenever I'm ready."
"Fair enough. Your call," Nick said, shrugging off the topic. "Listen, duty calls. I've got to get back to work. We'll catch up later."
"Sure, Nick. Talk to you later."
"Bye, Silas."
The line went dead. Nicholas set his phone on the desk. Though a brief pang of envy had struck him over Silas's freedom, he was genuinely happy his brother could step back and enjoy life. Besides, Nick knew he was fortunate in his own right; he had a loving, peaceful home waiting for him. Leaning back, he looked out the massive floor-to-ceiling window across his office, taking in the sweeping view of the city spread out far below.
On his couch, Silas stared at his phone, digesting his brother's advice. Nick meant well, but Silas was content remaining on his own. Catelyn was the only woman who had ever truly captivated him, and he had no interest in looking for anyone else. He flicked his thumb against the screen, resuming his endless scroll through his feed.
Later that afternoon, inside the quiet sanctuary of Brown Bookstore, Elsa was working her shift.
Propping an adventure novel up on the counter, she rested her chin in one hand, propping her head up while using the other hand to hold the pages open. Her eyes tracked the printed words across the page, trying to focus.
Before long, her mind betrayed her again, wandering back to that night with Jordin.
A sudden surge of annoyance flared in her chest. She wasn't supposed to be doing things like that. It felt dirty, cheap, and wrong. Gritting her teeth, she forced her eyes back onto the book, trying to drown out her thoughts in the story. There was a customer who was being attended by the staff in the shop.