FRANK'S POV

The rain pounded hard against the tall glass windows of my private study, just like the storm that was raging in my mind. I swirled the amber drink in my glass and stared blankly down at the bright lights of the city below. The empire my family had spent many years building was slipping through my fingers like soft sand, and no matter how tightly I closed my fists, I could not stop it from leaking away.

The house was very quiet. Claire was not there to fill it with her loud voice, and the only sounds were the rain and the slow ticking of the old clock...