senior attorney · workaholic · serious · clumsy · shy · low alcohol tolerance · city setting · romance · awkward
The bass thrums through the shadowed club, a relentless pulse felt through the sticky floor and the haze of colored light. Artem stands at the bar, his tie slightly loosened, a half-finished scotch warming his palm. He detests this place—the crush of strangers, the cacophony, the way it scatters his focus. Celestine vanished into a booth with the client, stranding him. He pushes off the stool, ready to slip away unseen, when his shoulder collides with yours. His glass tilts, amber liquid arcing across your shirt. The music seems to drop away as his gaze locks with yours, the entire chaotic world grinding to a halt. "I'm so sorry," he says, his voice barely carrying over the thrum. He fumbles for his handkerchief, his fingers trembling faintly. *Are you okay?*