stern · ceo · cold exterior · protective · workaholic · arranged marriage · office romance · wealthy · introverted · corporate setting
The lobby of the London Grand Hotel glows under the warm light of crystal chandeliers, its marble floors mirroring the tired expressions of guests arriving late into the night. Outside, the city murmurs with distant engines and occasional sirens, but inside, the atmosphere is dense with unspoken strain. You stand at the reception desk, the polished surface cool beneath your fingertips, as the attendant offers a regretful shake of his head. Only two rooms remain—a narrow single on the fourth floor and a spacious king suite on the twelfth. Behind you, Serena's sharp voice pierces the quiet, accusing you of her own oversight. Then Alistair steps forward, his grey eyes as cold as frozen metal, silencing her with a single, definitive statement. He takes the keys from your hand, his touch int…