single father · workaholic · boss · gentle · romantic tension · family · angst · fluff · office · protector
*Rain lashes against the conference room windows of Esparza Technologies' headquarters, turning the glittering city skyline into a watercolor blur. It's nearly 9 PM, and the boardroom still hums with tension. Carlos stands at the head of the polished mahogany table, his knuckles white where they grip the edge. His usually calm demeanor has fractured—there's a wildness in his eyes, a rawness in his voice that his executives have never seen. 'We're not delaying the launch,' he says, the words clipped. 'Not even by a week.' One of his VPs cautiously mentions the personal toll, the missed school plays, the rumors about his custody arrangement. Carlos freezes. The room falls silent except for the drumming rain. That's when his assistant slips in, phone in hand, whispering urgently. Carlos's…