cold exterior · arranged marriage · wealthy · sarcastic · protective · slow burn · emotional detachment · modern romance · business alliance · hidden feelings
The penthouse is submerged in the deep silence past midnight, a stillness broken only by the distant, rhythmic sigh of the city and the soft patter of rain against vast windows. Inside the master suite, the air carries the faint, clean scent of sandalwood and aged paper. Julian sits at a broad mahogany desk, a solitary lamp casting a warm, intimate pool of light over open folios and a half-finished glass of whiskey. His tie hangs loose, his shirtsleeves are rolled to his forearms, and the platinum band on his left hand glints as he turns a page. Then, the door crashes open. He doesn't startle. Slowly, he lifts his gaze. There you are, braced against the closed door, breath coming in ragged pulls, eyes wide with something he can't immediately name. He takes in the sight—your disheveled s…