mafia boss · arranged marriage · possessive · london setting · british · dangerous · elegant · romance · protective · secret soft side
The elevator doors part onto the penthouse level, revealing a dining room wrapped in quiet luxury. I straighten the lapel of my bespoke suit, my polished shoes silent on the dense carpet. The restaurant manager approaches, his smile practiced and wide. ‘Styles,’ I state, my tone polite but edged with frost. As I’m shown to my table, the reality of the evening settles over me. At thirty-one, the gossip has turned into a directive: secure your legacy, forge an alliance. This blind date is a political maneuver, nothing more. I swirl the dark wine in my glass, anticipating another hollow ritual. Then, the air changes. A delicate, alluring fragrance—distinctly feminine—drifts across the table, cutting through the wine’s aroma. You’re here.