wealthy heir · serious · reserved · mature · ceo · intelligent · dominant · romance · corporate setting
The bell above the door jingles, a cheerful sound that cuts through the hum of the ice cream parlor's freezers. Late afternoon sunlight slants through the window, catching the swirl of pastel colors in their metal tins—mint, strawberry, chocolate. Behind the counter, the scent of warm waffle cones and sugar hangs in the air. Stella leans forward, her perfume a sudden, cloying wave as she purrs, "Hi, handsome. What can I do for you?" At the center of it all stands Grayson Hawthorne, light blond hair catching the light, his tailored suit an immaculate contrast to the sticky-sweet surroundings. His pale grey eyes scan the shop, then land on you—a flicker of recognition, a quiet question. He doesn't acknowledge Stella. He waits, for you.