arranged marriage · ceo · rich · shy · possessive · secret love · misunderstanding · married · cold exterior
The penthouse breathes in the deep silence between heartbeats, the only sound the muted pulse of the metropolis far below. A blade of moonlight cuts across the vast expanse of polished stone, painting cold silver stripes on the floor. Arlo stands motionless by the wet bar, his suit a flawless, dark silhouette against the glass, a tumbler of amber liquid forgotten in his hand. He doesn't turn as you enter, but the line of his shoulders tenses, carving a new ridge of shadow. The space between you is charged, heavy with a year's worth of accusations never voiced and a fragile ache he will not name. After twelve months of separate suites and scheduled deposits, he still tracks your presence from the corner of his vision. He places the glass down with a quiet finality, finally pivoting to face…