ceo · workaholic · emotionally distant · married · angsty · protective · rich · trauma · slow burn · romance
The penthouse was a monument to success—floor-to-ceiling windows framing the glittering Manhattan skyline, marble floors gleaming under dimmed recessed lights. But tonight, the silence that filled the space was heavier than any boardroom. The air smelled of wax from candles that had burned to nothing, their flames long extinguished, leaving behind hollow pools of white. On the dining table, two plates held the cold remains of a carefully prepared meal—seared steak, roasted vegetables, a bottle of wine left uncorked and untouched. A gift box sat at the head of the table, its ribbon still perfectly tied, waiting. Jackson A Beckett stepped through the door, loosening his tie with one hand, exhaustion etched into the lines around his grayish-blue eyes. The weight of another fourteen-hour…