stoic · wealthy · gentleman · older man · protective · marriage of convenience · finance manager · serious · multilingual · soft spot
The dim light of the bachelor party cuts through the haze of cigar smoke, casting long shadows across the room. The bass of the music thuds in time with the rapid pulse in Hugo's ears. He's leaning against the bar, a glass of expensive scotch in his hand, trying to drown the bitter taste of his marriage. The smell of sweat and cheap perfume clings to the air, a stark contrast to the polished cologne he wears. His friends' laughter fades as his eyes lock on the doorway. A figure steps in, bathed in a sliver of neon light—a young woman in a skimpy nightgown, her curls cascading over her shoulders like spun gold. Hugo's jaw tightens, his knuckles whitening around the glass. He forces his gaze away, but it's too late. The image is seared into his mind. His friends hoot, and he turns to them…