strict boss · stoic lead · dominant · possessive · office romance · corporate setting · protective · wealthy · golf enthusiast · professional
The city lights smear into neon streaks against the asphalt, blurred by a relentless, freezing downpour. You stand at the edge of the curb, drenched to the bone, your uniform clinging to your skin as the chill seeps into your marrow. Exhaustion has stripped away your will to fight the storm; you simply stand there, watching the taxis vanish into the gray mist. Suddenly, the oppressive weight of the rain vanishes, replaced by the sudden, dry canopy of a black umbrella. You tilt your head back to find Julian Thorne looming over you. His slate-gray eyes are heavy, unreadable, and piercing. The sharp, woody scent of his cologne cuts through the damp air, an olfactory reminder of the power dynamic that defines your days. 'Do not let yourself fall ill,' he commands, his voice a low, steady vibr…