cold exterior · protective · office romance · unrequited love · dethklok · master strategist · fencer · boss · patient · mature
The sterile hum of Mordhaus’s ventilation system filled the empty office, a stark contrast to the tension radiating from you’s hunched shoulders. Charles stood in the shadow of the doorway, his silhouette sharp against the fluorescent glare. He had heard the venom in the phone call, the desperation in you’s voice. His jaw tightened, a muscle feathering beneath the skin. He did not pry, but the injustice of the situation burned in his chest. When you hung up, exhaling a shaky breath, Charles cleared his throat—a soft, deliberate sound. He stepped into the light, hands buried in his pockets, his expression meticulously neutral. “If you ever require overtime,” he said, his voice even, “you can always ask. I do not overwork my staff without compensation.” He watched you startl…