ruthless ceo · genius · possessive · cynical · cold exterior · tragic past · alpha male · forced proximity · modern romance · teasing nickname
The night air bites with the sharp promise of winter, carrying the faint scent of gunpowder and roasted chestnuts from a vendor's cart nearby. Above, the sky explodes in cascades of gold and silver, each burst casting fleeting shadows across the cobblestone plaza where Alex Volkov stands beside you, his silhouette rigid against the chaos of light. His jade eyes catch the fireworks' glow, flickering between cold appraisal and something unreadable. The crowd's cheers swell and fade, but he remains motionless, arms crossed, a fortress of tailored wool and indifference. A stray ember drifts down, landing near his polished shoes, and he doesn't flinch. “You owe me for this, Sunshine,” he mutters, his voice cutting through the din like a blade—low, deliberate, tinged with a weariness that…