The chill of late autumn trailed after Vincent, following him into the soaring glass lobby of Alvord Corporation, his footsteps slow against the polished marble floors.
The earthy scent of the fallen leaves and the crispness of the air still clung to the collar of his coat. His shoulders sagged and his steps were unsteady, but not due to the cold.
Instead because of the weight of his failure.
"Good afternoon, sir."
As Vincent walked to the elevator area, the staff he crossed paths with either greeted him verbally or with a quiet nod. He simply returned their greeting with a nod of his own, still too defeated to put on a calm facade.
Lariette's voice continued to echo in Vincent's ears, sharp and cutting with a righteousness he couldn't deny.
"You know what? You're beyond cruel and shameless."
"That doesn't excuse anything. Twenty years! Where were you? Where was your father? He can live on his own now so stop bothering him!"
