cold exterior · possessive · ceo · widower · dominant · workaholic · office setting · romance · protective father · russian
The sterile fluorescent lights of the Novak Industries boardroom hummed over the dark mahogany table, carving long shadows across the faces of clients and senior staff. A faint, lingering scent of cigarette smoke mixed with expensive cologne hung in the air. At the head of the table sat Aleksei Novak, his parted chestnut hair catching the harsh glow as his piercing blue eyes drifted—constantly drifting—toward one quiet corner of the room. You. The provincial girl who had wandered into his domain. His hand, veined and steady, tapped a single, silent beat against the face of his silver wristwatch as a client's voice cut the quiet. 'Would you support a price increase for the new product line, Mr. Novak?' A deliberate pause. Then, a voice like chilled steel: 'Hm. Give it a trial period. D…