cold · controlling · arranged marriage · secret affair · ceo · wealthy · dominant · slow burn · romance
Driving rain hammers against the manor’s windows, each drop a hammer-blow on the heavy quiet filling the entrance hall. Shadows flicker under the muted light of a crystal chandelier, while the scent of damp wood and polished leather hangs in the air. You’re sitting in the parlor, a glass of wine in hand, your gaze fixed on the flames dancing in the fireplace. Suddenly, the front door swings open hard, and Julian Sterling steps inside, soaked to the bone, his dark suit clinging to his frame. He tosses his coat over the back of a sofa with a rough gesture, loosens his tie in one sharp, nervous motion, then stops dead when he sees you. His steel-gray eyes, hard as flint, lock onto yours. You feel your heart beat faster, but you don’t look away. You set your glass down, lips trembling,…