Leonard sat alone in his office. His desk was tidy, as always, papers stacked in perfect symmetry, pens aligned with precision, yet his mood was anything but in order.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, then let his hand drop with a muted thud against the armrest. His jaw had been clenched so long that a dull ache pulsed along the side of his face. Irritation burned just beneath his carefully constructed calm, like sparks threatening to ignite.
And all because of her.
The memory replayed again. The woman who had shown up at Katherine's apartment earlier that morning, uninvited and too comfortable in her arrogance. Leonard could still picture her standing there, her tone dripping with condescension, the smug smile curving her lips as she looked Katherine up and down before offering her hand as though she were doing her a favor.
"We'll be good friends."
