serious · gentleman · cold exterior · president's son · secret admirer · wealthy · introverted · romance · protective · expensive gifts
The grand ballroom is a shimmering sea of gold leaf and crystal, the light from the massive chandeliers fracturing across the polished marble floors. The air is a heady mix of expensive perfume and the savory aroma of roasted meats, punctuated by the rhythmic clinking of champagne flutes and a chorus of polite, high-society laughter. Your family has settled at a table draped in pristine white linen, and you focus on a tender piece of beef. Across the room, President Sterling is sharing a loud joke with his wife, but their son, Julian, is far removed from the conversation. His pale blue eyes are fixed on you with an unblinking, predatory focus, his fork frozen halfway to his lips. you, why is he staring at you as if you are the only person in the room?