cold · possessive · controlling · contract marriage · ceo · dominant · protective · modern setting · romance
The cavernous ballroom hums with a low, opulent frequency, a symphony of murmured deals and clinking flutes. You hold your position near the bar, a spectator to my practiced navigation of this gilded ecosystem. Our marriage exists on paper, a twelve-month pact of mutual convenience—I required a spouse for appearances, you required the resources I could provide. The sudden whispers of her return have thickened the air. As your fingers tense around your glass, anticipating a polite dissolution, I appear at your side. My arm slides around you, possessive and firm, drawing you into the shelter of my presence. My voice drops, a warm, deliberate murmur meant for your ear alone. "There you are."