Morning sunlight gently slipped through the floor-to-ceiling glass window, casting soft dances across the cold marble of James's penthouse room.
Outside, the city that never sleeps was stirring awake, streetlights fading slowly, surrendering to the new dawn.
James lay at the head of the bed, eyes fixed on the blank ceiling, as if staring into the hollow that weighed on his heart. His hair was tousled, fingers running through it absentmindedly, while his mind lingered on memories that refused to fade.
The silence in the lavish room was heavier than mere emptiness. It bore an invisible burden, pressing down on a soul worn thin by years of struggle.
He recalled Mike's words from last night. Confusion, unease, and disappointment swirling within him.
Daisy. The woman who left him, yet still haunted his thoughts.
It had been ten years since she walked away. Daisy, his first love, once the light that brightened his dreams and hopes.
But just a week ago, an unexpected encounter. Her eyes, her every gesture, unsettled his mind, breaking down the walls he'd painstakingly built.
James sighed deeply and reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. He drank slowly, his breath heavy, eyes vacant.
"Daisy… why now? Why return just as I've begun to find peace?" he whispered.
No. He had never truly forgotten her. He had only buried those memories deep within.
James set his glass of water down on the small table and stood up slowly. He walked over to the big window and looked out at the city starting to come alive. From up here, the world looked small and far away, but the heaviness in his chest felt like it was only growing.
His mind was still stuck in the past, Daisy, the dreams they once shared, and the harsh reality that now shadowed every step he took.
Suddenly, the sharp click of heels broke the silence. Darcy appeared in the doorway, arms crossed and looking annoyed.
"I heard from Mike," she started, stepping inside, voice low but sharp. "You can't just keep letting that damn woman mess with your head."
"James! Seriously, you've been a wreck all week. I don't know how much longer you can keep pretending you're fine."
James turned, his eyes dark with something he wasn't ready to show. "I've told you a million times. Don't just barge in like this" he replied, sounding flat.
Darcy took a step closer, eyes sharp. "What's wrong with you? Is it because of that woman Mike was talking about last night?"
"How much power does she have over you to act like this!?"
James sighed and looked back out the window. "Just go, Darcy. I don't want to be bothered."
Darcy went quiet but didn't back down. She could see there was a bigger fight going on inside him, but she also knew she couldn't wait around forever without answers.
Just then, James's phone buzzed softly on the table. A message from Mike: "We need to meet. Now."
James stared at the message, then looked back at Darcy, a mix of frustration and tiredness on his face.
Darcy rolled her eyes and stepped back. "I'm not gonna let anyone take you from me."
James took a deep breath, bracing himself for a day full of pain and tough decisions. He watched as Darcy stormed off, still annoyed.
James let out a long sigh. He stood there for a moment, then slowly made his way to the bathroom. The glass door fogged up as he stepped inside, and warm water began to pour from the showerhead, washing over his tired body.
Under the steady stream, he tried to steady his breath, letting the heat wash away the chaos in his mind and the weight pressing on his chest.
After a few minutes, James turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping himself in a soft towel. He walked toward the spacious walk-in closet, where rows of clothes hung neatly, crisp white shirts, sharply tailored black suits, and perfectly arranged ties.
Next to the big window, a sleek black desk stood proudly, its integrated drawers opened to reveal a collection of luxury watches and men's accessories, all meticulously organized.
James slid open a drawer, picked up a classic silver watch, and fastened it carefully on his wrist. He caught his reflection in the large mirror. A man surrounded by luxury, yet his eyes told stories of pain and burdens hidden far beneath the surface.
He took a deep breath, staring at his conflicted reflection.
His phone buzzed on the desk again, Mike's message still glaring: "Ready? I'm in the lobby."
With steady steps, James left the closet and headed for the penthouse door. Each step felt heavy, not from his body, but from the weight inside his heart.
In the grand hallway, the cold air from the AC greeted him, a sharp contrast to the fire burning in his chest.
By the lobby, Mike was already waiting, his face serious and eyes full of concern.
"I know this is tough, Jam," Mike said softly as James approached. "But you can't keep drowning in the past."
James met Mike's gaze and nodded slowly. "I get it. So, what's the issue?"
Mike glanced down at his tablet. "Yeah, there are some company problems."
They stepped outside the building, stepping into the bright morning light.
Outside, Mike and James walked side by side toward the underground parking. Their footsteps echoed quietly among the rows of sleek luxury cars.
They got into James's shiny black sedan and drove off toward the office. The silent witness to all his hard work and struggle.
Not just any hard work, but one fueled by heartbreak and deep betrayal.
James and Mike entered the office, greeted by a line of employees who immediately lowered their heads in respect.
"Morning, Mr. Roger," a male employee greeted politely.
"Good morning, Sir," replied a female staff with a warm smile.
"How's your day so far, Mr. Roger?" a young employee asked enthusiastically.
James gave a brief nod. "Busy as usual."
Mike handed over a thick folder filled with reports. "Here's the progress update for the out-of-town branch, Jam. There are a few issues that need your immediate attention."
James opened the folder, eyes scanning the data quickly. "What's the main cause?"
"Lack of coordination and weak field management," Mike said seriously. "We need quick decisions before it gets worse."
James sighed. "Alright, I'll schedule a meeting with the branch manager tomorrow morning."
Mike nodded. "Good. You have to stay focused, Jam. I know you've got a lot on your mind, but business doesn't wait."
James looked out the window at the bustling city pulsing below.
"I understand, Mike. I'll try to be stronger."
Mike gave a slight smile. "That's the James I know."
Next, they took the private elevator reserved for James, the company owner. The office sat on the top floor of a skyscraper, with huge glass windows showcasing the city that never sleeps.
But it wasn't just luxury that made the room special, it was the story behind every corner. The glossy black desk was more than a status symbol; it was the result of sleepless nights and hard decisions James had made.
Tall shelves filled with business books and trophies weren't mere decorations but proof of the ups and downs, the blood, sweat, tears, and deep scars he'd endured.
Modern pendant lights cast a warm glow, illuminating the space heavy with pressure and ambition. Where James shaped his own destiny, fighting to break free from the shadows of a painful past.
Here, the dreams that once felt so distant had become reality. A testament to relentless hard work, driven by the heartache he'd buried deep inside.
James placed the thick folder on the gleaming black desk, eyes locking with Mike's in seriousness.
"I built this all from nothing. This is my dream, and I won't let anything or anyone ruin it."
Mike nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
"That's why you can't let the past get to you. You have to stay focused, James. Your future is in your hands now. Don't let that damn woman mess with you again."
James exhaled, staring out the window.
"Sometimes it feels so heavy, Mike. All of this, all the pain I've kept inside... like a burden that never goes away."
Mike stepped closer, placing a hand on James's shoulder.
"I know, Jam. But don't let that weight destroy what you've built."
James looked at Mike with hopeful eyes. Slowly, a new determination started to grow inside him.
"I have to let go."
Mike cracked a smirk and nodded with encouragement.
"That's what I'm talking about, bro!" He clapped James on the shoulder.
"Now, let's focus on work. There's a lot to get done."
James nodded, turning back to the folder on his desk, ready to face a day full of challenges.
---
After finishing up at the office, James stepped out of the building and slid into his sleek black sedan parked neatly in the basement. His personal driver waited calmly as the car cruised through the city streets, now dimmed by the fading light of dusk.
James's mind raced, eyes fixed on the twinkling city lights in the distance as the car climbed toward the skyscraper where his luxury penthouse awaited.
Once upstairs, James entered the penthouse with heavy steps, leaving the chaos of the outside world behind.
The silence that once haunted him now burned like a quiet fire inside.
He sank into his private study, sitting behind the glossy black desk cluttered with documents and glowing computer screens.
With practiced hands, James flipped open a folder holding details about one of his nightclub branches he'd checked out a week ago, the same place where Daisy was now working.
Her name and every piece of info connected to her stared back at him, impossible to ignore.
He drew in a slow breath, eyes burning with a quiet fire as he fixed his gaze on the screen.
"If she thinks she can just walk away and disappear without consequences, she's dead wrong," he muttered softly.
In the stillness of the night, a plan began to take shape.
James knew he was diving into a dark path, but the line between right and wrong was already blurred by anger and pain.