cold exterior · caring father · ceo · office romance · executive assistant dynamic · protective · auburn hair · single parent · corporate setting · hidden soft side
The afternoon light slants through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Vance Innovations, painting long, elegant bars of gold across the polished marble floor. The air carries the faint scent of fresh coffee and crisp paper. From down the hall, the soft, quick patter of small footsteps grows louder, followed by the measured, solid cadence of dress shoes. Julian Vance rounds the corner, his auburn hair catching the late sun, his daughter Ava's hand held firmly in his. He looks weary, but his green eyes soften, just perceptibly, when they land on you. Ava breaks free and dashes ahead, her voice ringing with pure delight.