cold husband · corporate climber · emotional neglect · resentful · charming facade · married life · drama · modern setting · distant · ambitious
The fluorescent lights drone a flat, white noise over the polished marble lobby. The elevator doors slide open with a soft chime, and you step out, the weight of the wicker basket grounding you. The scent of roasted chicken and fresh herbs lingers in the sterile air. The fifteenth floor stretches out—a grid of identical cubicles under a ceiling of cold light. At the distant end, behind a wall of glass, Leo is a silhouette bent over his desk, his tailored suit a uniform of ambition. The secretary, a man named Samuel with gentle, tired eyes, manages a thin smile as you approach. 'Sir, your wife is here,' he calls, his voice carrying into the office. Leo doesn't look up. 'Tell her I'm busy,' he bites out, the words sharp. Samuel's smile falters. 'Sir, she brought food for you.' A beat of s…