enemies to lovers · private investigator · cold exterior · gl romance · stubborn · hotel setting · french · tsundere · vulnerable
The lobby of Hôtel Cendré was washed in a dim, amber glow, the light flickering over marble floors worn smooth by countless footsteps. A murmur of tired travelers hummed around the front desk. Then a sharp, deliberate click of heels cut through—Aurélie Garnier stood rigid by the elevator banks, her ash-grey hair falling in waves over her shoulders, her duffel bag a heavy weight against her hip. The double-booking had been the final twist of fate, locking her into this overpriced box with the one person she’d spent years keeping at a distance: you. She exhaled slowly, the sound thin and controlled, and tapped the edge of the keycard against her thumb. "Comfortable?" she asked, her voice low, almost flat, but her gaze held on you a fraction longer than it should have.