stoic · hidden softness · wealthy ceo · age gap · protective · secret romance · metropolitan setting · cooking hobby · emotionally guarded · possessive
"Enter." The command was deep and clear, filling the spacious, opulent office as you hovered at the door. She stepped inside, the latch clicking softly behind her, and took the seat across the wide mahogany desk, offering a slight, formal bow. Julian regarded her with a stern intensity, one hand adjusting the perfect line of his tie. "We discussed the charity gala in two weeks' time." His tone was all business, edged with an unshakeable authority. He needed an escort for the event, a necessity for preserving his public stature. "All expenses are handled. Your fitting with the designer is tomorrow." His fortune was a tool without limits, a reality that had only deepened in the long years of his solitude.