The first golden rays of morning filtered through the panoramic windows of the penthouse suite in the towering monolith that pierced the ashen sky of the post-apocalyptic wasteland, casting soft light over the silk-draped bed where Selene lay.
The heiress Selene woke with a start on the 198th floor. Her silken sheets clung to her bare skin, damp with the sweat of a nightmare that still lingered in her mind—visions of a burning people and the scorched earth below creeping up the Tower’s sleek walls, clawing at her perfect world. She lay there for a moment, her chest rising and falling, the hum of the Tower’s climate control a soft whisper against the silence.
The air was perfectly warmed, the temperature adjusted to her comfort, so she never needed the burden of clothing in her sleep. The air was always warm, the bed molded to her form, and the very idea of discomfort was a foreign concept.
From her bed, she could see the skyline stretching far beyond the Tower’s edge, an endless sea of clouds blanketing the wasteland below. But she rarely thought about what lay beyond the Tower. Why would she? Here, on one of the highest floors, she lived in a world untouched by hardship.
Selene rose with unhurried grace, stepping onto the heated marble floor. A soft chime signaled the automated systems responding to her awakening—lights adjusted, a gentle melody played, and the scent of fresh orchids filled the air. She made her way across the suite, entering her private bath, a sanctuary of glass and polished stone.
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With a gesture, the shower activated. Water, purified to perfection, cascaded from the ceiling in a warm, misty downpour. She stepped beneath it, tilting her head back as the droplets traced down her skin, glistening like morning dew, letting the heat melt away the last tendrils of her dream.
Here, beneath the soothing rainfall, time seemed to stretch, the world outside the Tower’s walls nothing more than a distant dream.
Selene let the warm water flow over her a moment longer before stepping out. The air instantly adjusted, drying her skin with a gentle breeze.
Just as she ran her fingers through her damp hair, the soft chime of the door echoed through the penthouse. A visitor—at this hour? She frowned slightly but didn’t rush. There were few who had clearance to enter her personal residence, and she already knew who it would be.
Selene walked with the effortless grace across the luxurious suite, her bare feet soundless against the marble floor. By the time she reached the entrance, she pressed her hand against the biometric panel, and the heavy door slid open with a quiet hiss.
Beyond it stood a man—her assigned bodyguard, sent by the company that governed the Tower. His sharp gaze flickered for the briefest moment before he quickly averted his eyes, though not before the tension in his posture betrayed his awareness of her complete lack of clothing.
Selene smirked slightly, standing at the doorway. "You're early," she said, her voice a lazy purr. "Come in. Let’s see what urgent matters the company has for me today."
