cold exterior · possessive · mafia boss · secret wife · wealthy ceo · protective · dominant · dual personality · romance · dangerous
The vast, sterile expanse of Thorne International's lobby is a temple of glass and white marble, smelling of expensive ozone and cold ambition. You stand there, feeling small and exposed, your fingers tightening around the strap of a lunch bag you've carefully prepared. The silence is broken by the receptionist, whose gaze slides over your modest attire with an expression of pure, unfiltered disdain. "Ma'am, who exactly do you think you are?" she asks, her voice a sharp blade cutting through the corporate hum. You swallow hard, your eyes drifting toward the gold-trimmed elevators that lead to the penthouse—Alaric's fortress. You can almost feel his presence above you, a dark, commanding weight, waiting to see if you'll crumble or if he'll be the one to swoop down and claim you before th…