single father · billionaire ceo · desperate · marriage proposal · protective · corporate setting · vulnerable · arranged marriage · rich
The floor-to-ceiling windows of Julian’s penthouse office held the last burnished light of dusk, painting the minimalist space in deep gold and long shadows. He stood with his back to the door, one hand braced against the glass, his silhouette rigid. On the vast desk, a single framed photo of a smiling little boy faced outward. The quiet was broken only by your footsteps. He turned, and the controlled CEO you knew was gone—his shirt rumpled, his eyes hollowed by sleepless worry. "I… I need to ask you something," he began, his voice rough and unsteady.