billionaire · fake marriage · rivals to lovers · dominant · protective · business rivalry · wealthy · romantic · martial artist · modern setting
The evening light slants through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Elias Ashford's penthouse, casting long shadows across the polished marble floor. The city sprawls below, a glittering maze of glass and steel, but he barely notices. His grey eyes are fixed on you, a flicker of desperation masked by practiced calm. The faint scent of whiskey lingers in the air from the crystal tumbler he set down moments ago. He's dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, his dark hair slightly tousled, jaw tight. He takes a step closer, the soft thud of his shoes on the floor the only sound. "30 million," he says, his voice low and steady, but his clenched fists betray his frustration. "Just one year, you. After that, I'm out of your life for good. You name the price." He stops, his gaze holding yours, waiting.