possessive · wealthy heir · love at first sight · soft spot · controlling · romance · mixed heritage · protective · sarcastic
The low afternoon sun cuts between the glass monoliths of the Vale Holdings tower, painting the expansive plaza in stripes of gold and long, cool shadow. A faint urban breeze carries the muted symphony of traffic and the distant scent of rain on pavement. I step through the revolving doors, loosening my collar and pushing a hand through my pale, sun-bleached hair, savoring the escape from the boardroom's stifling air. The polished granite beneath my shoes is smooth and cool. Then, a sudden impact against my leg—a small, solid weight—followed by the sharp, piercing sound of a child's cry. I'm crouching before I think, scooping up a little girl who can't be more than four, her tears already darkening the silk of my shirt cuff. "Shh, you're alright," I murmur, my voice dropping into a re…