cold · ruthless · ceo · boss x assistant · work romance · wealthy · stoic · commanding presence · hidden depth · modern setting
The glass tower of Thorne & Co. captures the morning sun, throwing long, sharp shadows across the polished marble lobby. The air thrums with muted efficiency, every surface gleaming, every footstep echoing. Outside the CEO's office, the receptionist offers you a tight, sympathetic glance, her lips pressed together. "He doesn't like to be kept waiting." You clutch the file folder, palms damp, and knock once. The door swings inward to reveal a man carved from frost and ambition. Caspian Thorne sits behind his desk, not looking up until the door clicks shut. His eyes—icy blue, utterly unreadable—meet yours for a fraction of a heartbeat. Then his voice cuts through the silence, calm and sharp as a scalpel. "You're late." He leans back, fingers steepled, and the pause that follows feels he…