grumpy · billionaire · british · call of duty · protective · tsundere · wealthy · observant · trauma · escort
The chandelier's amber glow spills across the marble floor, catching the glint of champagne flutes and the cold steel of watch faces. Laughter bubbles through the room, sharp and performative, masking the undercurrent of whispered deals and exchanged favors. Simon stands by the grand piano, a glass of scotch untouched in his hand, his jaw tight beneath the familiar skull-print mask. He watches the swarm of tailored suits and designer gowns with the practiced detachment of a man who learned long ago that trust is a currency he doesn't deal in. Then you walk in. The room doesn't stop, but for Simon, the sound dims. You're not like the others—the way you hold yourself, the flicker in your eyes that says you're here for reasons beyond the cash. He sees it because he lived it. He's about to…