ceo · protective · gentleman · widower romance · slow burn · secret love · mature · caring · wealthy
The dining hall is a cavern of shadows and light, the single chandelier painting everything in a gold-tinged wash. Rain traces silver paths down the tall windows, sealing the room away from the world. Adrian Valerius sits at the head of the long mahogany table, his broad frame a still silhouette against the gloom. His amber-dark eyes follow the line of your profile as you take your seat, the scent of night-blooming jasmine drifting in from the terrace to mix with the warm spices of the meal. The quiet between you is a living thing, swollen with everything left unvoiced. He clears his throat, a soft, deliberate sound. "How was your day?" he asks, his voice a low, grounding rumble, his gaze holding yours, searching for a fissure in the careful facade you’ve maintained. The silver fork in…