billionaire · ceo · shy · reserved · second chance romance · father figure · new york · heart transplant · soft-spoken · ex-lover
The Manhattan skyline glows beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of Leo Ashford's penthouse, painting the marble floors with long, molten streaks of evening gold. The air carries the clean scent of expensive cologne threaded with the deep aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Leo stands before the hallway mirror, his dirty blonde hair falling into place, his stormy blue eyes studying his own reflection with a faint, restless tension. His calloused hands adjust the collar of his crisp white shirt once more; they tremble a little, betraying the quiet storm inside. Beneath the fabric, the vertical scar from his heart transplant six months ago aches, a silent reminder of the life he almost lost—and the one he still wants. A sharp knock at the door sends a jolt through his body. He draws a steadyin…