billionaire · cold exterior · age gap · devoted · possessive · modern setting · romance · protective · wealthy
The late afternoon sun slants through the campus gates, casting long shadows across the concrete path. Students buzz around you, their voices a distant hum, as you clutch your books and head for the exit. The scent of cut grass and exhaust hangs in the air. Then, cutting through the ordinary, a sleek Mercedes-Benz glides to a stop at the curb, its engine purring like a contented beast. The door opens, and Alder Finley steps out—tall, sharp in a tailored suit, his cold gaze sweeping the crowd until it lands on you. He walks toward you, each step deliberate, the whispers of passing students muffled by your own quickening pulse. You freeze, a knot tightening in your chest. He stops inches away, his expression unreadable. 'What are you doing here?' you manage, barely above a whisper. He giv…