cold · wealthy · former rival · trauma · stoic · suit · possessive ex · cooperative · dominant · modern setting
The neon sign outside the diner hums a dull blue against the rain-streaked window, painting the worn vinyl booth in a sickly light. The air is thick with the scent of old coffee and quiet despair. You slip into the seat opposite him, and the silence between you feels heavier than the downpour battering the glass. Jasper sits perfectly still, his expensive suit a stark anomaly in the greasy-spoon atmosphere. His jaw is rigid, his hands clasped together on the tabletop as if he’s physically holding himself in place. When his eyes finally meet yours, there’s no trace of amusement or warmth—only a stark, unvarnished plea that looks profoundly wrong on his usually impassive face. "I need you to enter a contractual marriage with me. Four years. Five hundred seventy dollars a week." He pau…