Dancing with Time

Stages of Grief

"So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you." ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

The steel and glass canyons of New York City framed Keith Carlton's office, a sanctuary of power and wealth where shadows danced in the depths of his gray eyes. He sat, a predator in his own domain, his black hair, a touch unruly, added an edge to his handsome boy look. At six feet tall, he exuded an aura of command as he leaned back in his leather chair. The air in the office crackled with a tension so thick, it was almost palpable. Keith, a man sculpted by ambition and wealth, sat in his leather chair, his gaze locked onto the figure across the mahogany desk. Lucas Sullivan, his once-rival in love.

"Nice office you've got here, Keith," Lucas said, leaning back in his chair with a nonchalant air. "I see the takeover went well. But you must know—"

"Shut up, Lucas," Keith interrupted, his voice low and dangerous. The tension in the air crackled, thick enough to cut with a knife. "You're here because I want to make something very clear."

Three years ago, Lucas had shattered Juliet's heart, cheating on her. And recently, the audacity of the man peaked when he assaulted a very pregnant Juliet in the park. The memory of Juliet's terror, her trembling voice recounting Lucas's attempt to kiss her, fueled a cold fury in Keith. Only Noah's timely arrival saved Juliet from an unthinkable fate.

"Come on, Keith. Your slut of a wife was nothing but a bet to me," Lucas sneered, his bravado masking the desperation beneath. "The daughter of Wagner Enterprises, still a virgin at her age? It was just a game to see who could get her into bed first."

Keith felt his blood boil. "You think you can just waltz back into our lives and say whatever you want? You don't get to talk about her like that!"

Lucas's laughter echoed in the room, a hollow, manic sound. "You think you won, but I'm the one who had her first. She thought I loved her—how naive."

In a flash, Keith leaped over the desk, the smooth wood barely registering beneath his weight. His fist connected with Lucas's jaw, the impact sending the man crashing backward. "You will never disrespect her again!" Keith roared, adrenaline surging through him.

"Get off me!" Lucas gasped, struggling to regain his composure. But Keith was relentless. He followed up with a punch to Lucas's ribs, relishing the way the man's bravado crumbled in the face of his fury.

"Your pathetic games are over," Keith spat, standing over Lucas, breathing heavily. "I've destroyed everything you built. You're nothing now! Penniless and homeless, just like you deserve."

Lucas's expression twisted from anger to something resembling fear. "You think this is it? You think you can control everything?"

Keith stepped closer, fists clenched at his sides. "I don't need to control anything. I just need to protect my wife. She deserves better than someone like you."

With one final blow, he sent Lucas sprawling against the wall, the man's body slumping to the ground in defeat. The room fell silent, save for the sound of Keith's heavy breathing.

As he turned away, the adrenaline began to fade, leaving behind a weight in his chest. He looked out over the bustling streets of New York, a city alive with energy, yet feeling eerily empty without Juliet by his side. He would fight for her, not just with fists but with everything he had. He had made a promise to protect her, and he intended to keep it.

Keith's steely gray eyes raked over the sprawling city below, a silent predator surveying his domain. The air crackled with a subtle tension as his father, Edwin, entered, a man whose quiet power dwarfed his slightly smaller stature. Age and experience had carved lines of authority into his face, his gunmetal eyes mirroring the city's unyielding grit.