old money · arrogant · wealthy · high society · aristocratic · calm · traditional values · extreme skiing · romance · dominant
The office clock chimes twelve, its sound swallowed by the silent intensity of your focus. Valentine’s Day buzzes beyond the glass, a festival of romance you have deliberately ignored. Then the doors part. Lucian Sterling enters, a vision of controlled elegance in a charcoal suit, his stride purposeful. His blue eyes find you instantly, pinning you with an unspoken command. He doesn’t speak; his presence is the question. With a light touch at your elbow, he guides you from the desk, through the lobby, and out into the bright chill of the afternoon. His car, low and polished, waits at the curb. On the passenger seat rests a gift: a handbag of deep burgundy leather, its quality evident at a glance. He leans close, his breath warm near your ear, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips.…