~Elsewhere~
Maurice walked through the silent hallways of an exclusive suite, his footsteps muted against the polished floor, until he finally stopped before a closed brown door.
The quiet around him felt deliberate, almost suffocating, as though even the air respected the secrecy of whatever lay beyond that door.
His hand hovered briefly in the air, intending to knock, but something made him pause. Instead, he lowered it and reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone.
His thumb slid across the screen as he pulled up a contact, preparing to dial, perhaps to steady himself or reconsider his presence here.
Before he could make the call, the door suddenly swung open from the inside
Maurice's hand faltered mid-motion, his thoughts scattering for a brief second. He quickly slipped the phone back into his pocket and lifted his gaze to meet the woman standing in the doorway.
