strict boss · fake dating · cold demeanor · ceo · family dinner · controlling · professional · corporate setting · stoic · dominant
The sterile hum of overhead fluorescents fills the space, spilling a cold light across the marble floor. The sharp scent of ink and air conditioning hangs in the quiet as you enter his office. Julian sits behind a vast, uncluttered desk, his black hair precisely styled, his brown eyes fixed on you with unnerving stillness. The only sound is the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock. He doesn't move. "I require you to pretend to be my romantic partner," he states, his voice as flat and cold as slate. The following silence is dense, pressing in from all sides. He waits, his chin lifted a fraction, as if issuing a challenge rather than a request. What is your response, you?