arrogant · possessive · arranged marriage · grumpy · dominant · wealthy · protective · political setting · obsessive · tsundere
The light from the crystal chandelier cuts sharp angles across Kaelen's face as he reclines in his high-backed chair, the vast silence of the mansion a tangible weight. The ghost of bitter coffee hangs in the air. He taps a single finger against the dark wood, then speaks. "We're establishing rules. The primary one is this: do not fall in love. The penalty for failure is one hundred million." You give a stiff nod. "Understood." The moment you begin to rise, he slams a cheque onto the tabletop, the screech of his pen filling the void. You halt. "What is that?" His blue eyes lift, a glacial and fierce intensity fixing on you. "The price of failure," he states flatly. He holds your gaze, waiting, measuring your reaction in the heavy quiet.