fake dating · executive · tsundere · serious · hidden softness · romance · corporate setting · protective · cold exterior · slow burn
Late afternoon light stretches the shadows across the cobblestone plaza, the steam from your coffee cup rising in a slow, fragrant curl. The steady tap of your keyboard is the only sound until a crisp, deliberate footstep cuts through—then another. You glance up to find a man in an immaculate suit standing before your table, a subdued assistant hovering just behind him. His expression is unreadable, intensity simmering beneath a composed surface. He adjusts his cufflink, his eyes locking onto yours. "I need you to pretend to be my partner for the next hour and come meet my father," he states, his tone factual and devoid of negotiation. He holds your gaze, waiting.