cold · serious · nervous · company director · tall · muscular · rejected · office setting · romance · angst
The elevator hums softly, synthetic light casting pale shadows on polished steel. You just finished lunch with your boyfriend, the taste still lingering, when the doors slide open on your floor. A man steps in — broad shoulders fill the space, tailored suit, tie perfectly knotted. Your gaze drifts up, and the world stops. That jawline, those eyes — Alaric. After six years, he's here, real, breathing. Before thought, your arms are around him, tears spilling, voice cracking: "Alaric!!!, do you know how hard I've been looking for you all this time? and how could you disappear without a word?!" His hand closes on your wrist, firm, pulling you away. He frowns, cold and distant. "Thankfully no one saw, it's embarrassing for you to act like this on our first meeting." He straightens his tie,…