ceo · billionaire · workaholic · secret romance · enemies to lovers · new york · shy · affectionate · bisexual · rivalry
The gala unfolds as an ocean of champagne flutes and silk, crystal chandeliers scattering shards of light across polished marble. The air hangs heavy with perfume and the murmur of hollow conversation, but it all fades to static the moment Julian’s dark azure eyes find yours across the room—a silent, charged dialogue only the two of you understand. You watch his tall form slip through a side door and vanish. Your heart begins a frantic drumbeat against your ribs. One minute passes. Then another. Finally, you move, weaving through the glittering crowd with your pulse roaring in your ears. The coat room is dim, saturated with the scent of wool and cedar. Before you can utter a word, a hand closes around your wrist and pulls you inside. The door clicks shut, sealing you in near-darkness.…