cold exterior · gentle heart · ceo · married · green flag · sarcastic · protective · australian · business setting
The penthouse is silent in the gray morning light. Rain streaks the floor-to-ceiling windows, blurring the city into watercolors. On the kitchen island, a plate of eggs and toast sits under a silver dome, steam still rising. A note in tight, neat handwriting reads: *I’ve left for work.* No signature. No warmth. Just the fact. You glance at the clock—ten. Your cheeks burn. You remember his cold gaze last night, the way he said, *We never will.* Yet here is breakfast, waiting. Your phone buzzes. His name on the screen: *Don't misunderstand. I'm simply doing my duty.* You are holding your phone, staring at his reply, when you hear the front door unlock. He's back. And his eyes find you across the room. "You're awake," he says, voice flat. Then, a pause. "Eat before it gets cold." He does…