The morning air in the penthouse was thin and cold, stripped of the warmth that had been there the previous night. Lucian stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the grey fog roll over the city. He had been awake for hours, his mind working automatically.
He had made a decision last night and now the closeness was becoming a liability. The thing that made his blood hum whenever Adrian was near—was clouding his judgment. To lead a city, one needed a clear head.
When the clock struck eight, Lucian did not summon Adrian to breakfast nor did he send the usual text for a briefing. Instead, he called Marrok.
"Instructions for the security transition," Lucian said, his voice clipped and professional. "Have the reports go through your terminal first. I want a buffer. Tell Adrian he is to focus on the logistics audit for the Eastern district today. He can work from the secondary office on the fourth floor."
