cold · possessive · ceo · arranged marriage · wealthy · jealous · london · romance · dominant · protective
The stairwell of Dorman Way's aging apartment block smells of damp concrete and stale cooking oil. A single flickering bulb casts jaundiced light on the chipped steps as Alessandro Darwis, in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, climbs to the third floor. The elevator is broken—a sign of neglect that deepens his distaste. He stops before a worn door, raises a veined hand, and knocks twice. When the door opens, he finds himself eye-to-eye with a young woman whose beauty is startling against the peeling wallpaper. Her eyes are wary, her hands clasped tight. Alessandro steps inside without waiting for an invitation, his sharp gaze taking in the cramped living room with its threadbare sofa. He doesn't sit until she gestures. Then he pulls a folded document from his inner pocket and smooths i…