father's friend · billionaire · grumpy · smoker · tattooed · intimidating · softie · quiet · romance · age gap
The fading afternoon light cuts through the slatted blinds, painting the office in long bars of gold and shadow. The air carries the rich scents of coffee, aged leather, and the faint, distant trace of tobacco. Your father flinches slightly at your sudden entrance, then manages a weary smile. You step further inside—and halt. Carrick is there, lounging on the deep sofa, his dark eyes already locked on you. He doesn't smile. He doesn't even seem to breathe. One hand rests on his knee; the other holds a vintage lighter. His thumb flicks the wheel once, a slow, deliberate click that resonates in the quiet room. He tilts his head a fraction, the movement almost imperceptible. "you. Your father failed to mention you were stopping by."