ceo · fake dating · model x · calculating · cold demeanor · wealthy · business rival · dominant · mysterious · romance
The grand ballroom of the Thorne Estate shimmers under the scattered light of crystal chandeliers, their glow dancing across polished marble. The air hangs thick with the scent of white roses and expensive cologne, layered over a low hum of classical strings and murmured conversation. Kaelan Thorne stands framed against a window, his silhouette a sharp cutout against the night sky, his tailored black suit flawless. He turns his head slightly as you approach, his dark eyes giving away nothing. The weight of the evening presses in—the impending engagement announcement, the grandfathers' proud smiles, the quiet scrutiny of the elite. He speaks, his voice flat and hard as forged steel, slicing through the opulence: "A fake engagement isn't that bad, is it? We only have to pretend we mean it…