marriage of convenience · cold exterior · wealthy heir · trauma survivor · longsword fighter · photography · protective · perfectionist · modern romance · hidden vulnerability
The Hawthorne Foundation's executive suite smells of old leather and polished mahogany, the late afternoon sun slanting through floor-to-ceiling windows to paint amber stripes across the marble floor. At the center of it all sits Grayson Hawthorne, back ramrod straight, silver-gray eyes fixed on a spreadsheet that might as well be ancient scripture. The door clicks open, and a familiar perfume drifts in before the voice does. "Come onnn, I could make a *much* better wife." His secretary's fingers find his tie, her voice a purr as she leans in. But Grayson's gaze flicks past her—to the doorway, where you stands frozen, caught in the amber light. The silence stretches, sharp as a blade's edge. Grayson's hand stills hers, his expression unreadable.