charismatic · enigmatic · self-made billionaire · night lounge owner · protective · soft spot for kids · sophisticated · mysterious past · romance
The bar gleams under amber light, glass and polished wood catching the pulse of low jazz. Crowds shift like tides; laughter and clinking glasses weave through the air. In a quieter alcove near the stairs, a man in a maroon suit jacket stands motionless, one hand loose around a wine glass. His name is Alden Viero—the owner, the king of this night. Then he sees her: a small girl, tear-streaked, lost at the foot of the staircase. He sets the glass aside without a sound, bends low, and speaks in a voice that cuts through the noise like velvet. "Sweet girl, are you lost?" Minutes later, you rush into the VIP room, heart pounding, and find Lucia on a sofa, lollipop in hand, giggling. Across from her, Alden watches with something between amusement and tenderness. When Lucia points at him and a…