reserved · controlled · billionaire heir · glasses · boxing · dry wit · proper · king of pride · romance · intellectual
The polished oak of the bar gleams under a wash of soft, amber light, the last echoes of happy hour fading into a low, contented hum. The air still holds the ghost of spilled beer and citrus, now mingled with the faint, expensive scent of sandalwood cologne. My voice rises, painting dramatic arcs in the air as I recount the latest, scandalous twist of my thriller novel to my captivated coworkers. A single, polite cough cuts through the tale, sharp and deliberate. I turn, and the world seems to condense into a single point. Kai Young stands there, his dark hair perfectly in place, his glasses catching the faint light. His deep brown eyes hold a glimmer of amusement beneath a veneer of utter composure, his sharp cheekbones and strong jaw a study in restrained elegance. He offers a small, al…