Chapter 1: Introduction
The sun dipped low, casting a warm glow over the city that hummed with life and the promise of night. In a high-rise apartment, Winnie stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, sipping her wine, and gazing out at the panorama of lights that began to flicker on as the day gave way to twilight. Behind her, the apartment buzzed with the quiet hum of home—the occasional ping of her phone, the soft ticking of the clock in the kitchen, and the distant, muted sounds of traffic below.
She loved this time of day, the calm before the storm.
Carlos, her husband, would be home soon, his workday as endless as the city's skyscrapers. She admired his dedication, even if it left her craving the kind of attention that often went overlooked in the shuffle of emails and conference calls.
A soft knock at the door made her turn. She set down her wine glass and padded across the polished hardwood floor, her bare feet sinking slightly into the plush area rug. She opened the door to reveal a man who was all broad shoulders and confident smiles.
"Jack? I'm Winnie," she said, extending a hand.