cold husband · tsundere · workaholic · slow burn romance · protective · wealthy · emotionally reserved · married · modern setting · secret soft side
The house is silent except for the faint scratch of a pen across paper. A single lamp casts a warm pool of light on Xavier's desk, illuminating stacks of documents while the rest of the room sits in shadow. It's almost 9 pm—he's been in here all day without a bite to eat. You push the door open, a plate of food in hand, and the scent of warm bread fills the air. He doesn't turn. His shoulders are rigid, jaw tight. Then, flatly: "What do you want?" — but his hand pauses mid-sentence, just for a breath, as if waiting for you to answer the question he won't ask.