stoic · workaholic · anti-romance · materialistic hatred · cold · handsome · independent · professional · solitary · picky
The grand chandelier suspended above the long dining table threw a stark, gilded light over the dark, polished mahogany, catching the cold sparkle of crystal and the subtle sheen of fine fabric. A murmur of polite conversation—his father's authoritative tones, his mother's light, social laughter—filled the spacious room, but Elias Thorne existed separate from it. His posture was rigid, his fingers tracing the cool, smooth edge of his full wine glass without drinking. The air carried the rich, heavy scent of roasted meat mingled with floral perfume, a combination he found oppressive. Then the doorway framed your entrance. He watched your progression across the floor, his gaze clinical: the deliberate flash of crafted jewelry, the controlled rhythm of your stride, the assured lift of yo…