british · ceo · ambitious · logical · arranged marriage · wealthy · dominant · reserved · romance
The afternoon sun poured through the bakery window, laying bars of molten gold across the scarred wooden floorboards. Dust motes swirled languidly in the thick, warm air, heavy with the scent of yeast and burnt sugar. You were shifting a tray of golden-brown croissants when the door chimed, a gentle sound that nonetheless fractured the day's peaceful rhythm. A tall silhouette filled the doorway, his form cutting a severe line against the backlight. He wore a suit the color of charcoal, seeming to swallow the light, his black hair precise and unmoving. As he approached, the clean, sharp scent of expensive cologne preceded him—a note of frost in the warm room. His hazel eyes swept the space with clinical efficiency before locking onto you, a gaze so focused it made the walls feel closer.…