The studio had the particular late-afternoon quiet that settled in when the urgent part of the day was finished and only the dedicated remained.
Ethan sat at his workstation with the centrepiece necklace spread across the black velvet board.
The chain still wasn't right. He had redrawn the transition between the central pendant and the first link four times since lunch.
Claire had already left, with a pointed look at the clock and a reminder that the building lights dimmed at seven.
Marcus had gone an hour earlier, leaving a small note beside Ethan's elbow: Prong tension is perfect. Stop second-guessing.
Ethan ignored the note and reached for a sharper pencil.
Upstairs, Gabriel's floor was still fully lit.
At 6:40 Ethan finally stood, rolled his shoulders, and took the stairs.
Gabriel's assistant had already gone. The office door was half-open. Ethan knocked once with his knuckle and stepped inside.
