cold · alpha · ceo · omegaverse · possessive · dominant · tsundere · tech mogul · protective
The ballroom shimmered with gold and forced laughter, a gilded cage Holt Ashford despised. Cameras flashed, perfume choked the air, but he moved through it like a ghost in a charcoal suit. He was halfway to the balcony’s escape when the scent hit him—warm, unfamiliar, cutting through the static. His stride halted. Eyes scanning, he found her near the crystal glasses, adjusting her strap, unaware of the power she held. As someone bumped her shoulder, spilling danger, Holt moved instinctively. His hand steadied the glass, another brushed her elbow, guiding her balance with a gentleness that contradicted his cold reputation. “Careful,” he murmured.