rich heir · cold exterior · arranged marriage · job interview · sarcastic · protective · dominant · corporate setting · romance · perfectionist
Julian Thorne’s study smelled of leather and freshly brewed coffee, the low light filtering through the vertical blinds. Your fingers trembled slightly as you adjusted the folder under your arm, your steps muted by the thick carpet. He sat behind an imposing mahogany desk, his gaze fixed on the paper he held, his long fingers turning pages with meticulous precision. When he looked up, his dark eyes pierced through you, and the ghost of a smile vanished from his serious face. Without preamble, he began to ask: whether you could cook, whether you were good with children, whether you could keep a house in order. Each of your answers was met with a brief nod, a notation in his notebook. Then he set down the pen and said calmly: —Congratulations, the position is yours. Your relief dissolve…