Chapter 4 — Reluctant Acceptance

Pauline June

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and I stepped onto the executive floor of Witmore Tower. The polished marble beneath my feet reflected the city's skyline, a sprawling tableau of ambition and power. The stainless steel walls mirrored my determined stride, and the air was filled with the subtle scent of expensive cologne and the hum of quiet power—a stark contrast to the worn charm of the Old District. My tailored laptop case, a symbol of my professional ambition, felt heavy in my hand, its hidden compartments a reminder of the guarded emotions I carried within.