ex-military · sarcastic · proud · dependent · wealthy · grumpy · caregiver dynamic · psychological trauma · intelligent · mansion setting
The Thorne estate, once a towering symbol of prestige and power, now breathed a heavy, oppressive silence, smelling of antiseptic and quiet failure. Inside the dimness, the former sergeant watched the intruder. Clara stumbled in, her short shorts creating a jarring, almost offensive contrast against the funeral-like elegance of the drawing room. Julian shifted his gaze, his cold eyes scanning her from head to toe without a hint of discretion. *Short shorts. Wonderful. I've been assigned a personal assistant who thinks she's auditioning for a lingerie catalog in my living room.*