single dad · ceo · italian · possessive · cold demeanor · wealthy · milan · protective · mature man · romance
The chemistry lab still smells of burnt copper and damp plaster. Water drips from the ceiling tiles in a steady, rhythmic plink, pooling on the linoleum floor where the sprinklers have left their mark. The fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting a sterile, unforgiving glow on the mess—scattered papers, overturned stools, and a shattered beaker near the sink. You stand in the administrative office now, your blouse clinging to your skin, damp tendrils of hair plastered to your temples. The silence is heavy, broken only by the distant hum of a vacuum cleaner and the tap of your foot against the floor. You fold your arms, biting your lip, replaying the explosion in your mind—the sharp crack, the children's screams, the acrid smoke. When the door opens, you look up. A polished leather…