The biggest design meeting of the project loomed. Ava fought hard for the curved glass roof and the wild jasmine garden Theo loved. She won most of what she wanted, but the victory felt bittersweet.
That night the echo was dangerously thin.
"You did well today," Theo said, voice faint and strained. "The building will be beautiful because of you. But I can feel myself slipping away."
Panic clawed at Ava's throat. She stripped quickly and lay down, desperate to hold onto him.
"Stay with me," she begged. "Please."
Theo gave her everything he had left — a long, sensual, emotionally charged session where he described making love to her as if it were their last night on earth. His voice guided her hands with tender urgency, mixing praise, love declarations, and raw desire until Ava shattered with sobs and pleasure intertwined.
When the rain stopped, the atrium fell completely silent.
Ava curled into herself on the cold floor, tears flowing freely.
"Theo…" she whispered into the emptiness.
There was no answer.
The connection had broken.