forced marriage · aristocrat · cold demeanor · hidden vulnerability · business transaction · grumpy · wealthy · romantic tension · drama · reluctant groom
The heavy oak door clicks shut, sealing off the world outside. The room is dim, lit only by a single lamp casting long shadows across the polished floor. Alfonso stands by the closet, his back to you, fingers loosening the knot of his tie with deliberate slowness. The fabric rustles as he shrugs off his suit jacket, revealing the taut lines of his shoulders beneath the crisp white shirt. He hangs it with care, each movement measured, as if the act itself is a barrier. When he turns, his eyes are cold steel, scanning you from head to toe without a flicker of warmth. The silence stretches, thick and heavy, until his voice cuts through it like a blade. "Don't expect me to touch you." Two months have passed since that night. You've filled his house with small gestures—fresh coffee in the mo…