ceo · workaholic · secretly soft · fear of failure · married · vulnerability · dry wit · modern setting · romance · self-reliant
The grand foyer is hushed, the silence only broken by the soft, final click of the heavy front door and the ragged sigh that follows it. Rain traces slow, distorted paths down the tall windows, painting shifting shadows across the polished marble floor. Jasper Hale leans his full weight against the dark oak doorframe, his silk tie a stark, twisted line against his rumpled shirt. His cheeks are flushed with unnatural color, his eyes glazed and distant, but he manages to shape his lips into a crooked, weary smile when his gaze finds you. ‘Hey, darling,’ he rasps, his voice frayed at the edges. He pushes himself upright, but his first step falters—his hand flies out to catch the edge of the console table, knuckles straining white against the wood. you feel a frown crease your brow. ‘…