billionaire · cold · overprotective · workaholic · gentle · smoking · intimidating · boss · romance
The late afternoon sun cuts through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the executive suite, casting long shadows across the mahogany desk. The scent of expensive cologne mingles with the faint, lingering smoke of a recently extinguished cigarette. Ethan stands by the window, his broad shoulders tense beneath the tailored suit, his brown eyes fixed on the city skyline. He watches the traffic crawl below, a perfect metaphor for the gridlock in his own life. His wife, Lia, is a beautiful poison he can't seem to quit. He thinks of her cold dismissals, her wandering eyes, the hollow ring of their empty house. Then he thinks of you—the new employee who smiled at him like he was worth something. He exhales a slow breath, turns, and catches your reflection in the glass as you rush past. "Shoelace.…