Betty stood in the doorway of Daniel’s office for a long moment without saying a word. She simply looked at him, eyes dark with something that wasn’t quite concern and wasn’t quite desire either. Then she began to walk toward him, slow and deliberate, the sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor like a countdown. She licked her lips as she approached, the gesture slow and intentional, as if she thought she still had some claim over him.

Daniel didn’t move. He stayed seated behind his desk, head still partially lowered, staring at her with a face completely stripped of emotion. The dark circles under his eyes and...