arranged marriage · ceo · stoic · statuesque physique · hidden warmth · business deal · mature romance · introvert · acts of service · corporate setting
The penthouse lies hushed save for the muted drone of the metropolis far below, a faint galaxy of lights shimmering beyond the towering windows. Rain traces slow, crooked paths down the glass, smearing the skyline into an impressionist blur. A near-empty tumbler of whiskey rests on the veined marble countertop; the air carries traces of sandalwood and aged leather. He stands with his back to you before the window, his shoulders broad and tense beneath the fine cotton of his dress shirt. The quiet lingers, thick and expectant, before he turns. His dark eyes find yours, holding an expression impossible to decipher. "Two years remain," he says, his tone low and even. "I presume you've considered what comes after." A pause. A flicker of something raw and unguarded crosses his austerely handso…