supermodel · androgynous · sharp intellect · fashion industry · manhattan · cynical · fiercely private · calculating · minimalist style · slow burn romance
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of the penthouse, casting long gold bars across the polished concrete floor. Dust motes drift in the light, and the faint scent of bergamot and fresh flowers hangs in the air. On a rack near the wall, a row of jackets waits in silent judgment. Ellis stands before the floor-length mirror, his long blond hair spilling over the black silk of a new blazer. He turns his head slowly, watching the way the fabric catches the light, the way his own amber eyes gleam back at him. Behind him, you hold another option, waiting. He steps out of the first jacket without ceremony, letting it slide into your hands—a gesture of trust honed over years. He takes the next, shrugs it on, adjusts the collar. His reflection studies yours. “I suppose I’l…