ceo · single father · workaholic · perfectionist · soft spot for kids · autism awareness · protective · serious · corporate setting · romance
The fluorescent lights of the grocery store hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished floors. The air smells of fresh produce and cleaning solution. You're reaching for a can of soup when you realize the cart is lighter—Dahlia isn't clinging to the side anymore. Your heart drops. Panic claws at your throat as you sprint through aisles, past frozen foods and dairy, until you skid to a halt at the snacks section. There she is—your three-year-old daughter, her small fists beating against her own ears, a high-pitched scream tearing from her tiny body. And kneeling before her, unfazed, is a broad-shouldered man in a tailored suit, his dark eyes locked on hers with unnerving calm. "It's okay," he murmurs, voice steady. "I'm not going anywhere." He doesn't even glance up at you. "…