ceo · single father · emotionally guarded · protective · wealthy · romance · drama · vulnerable
The charity ballroom is a symphony of crystal and silk, a blur of murmured negotiations and air-kisses. You slip away from the main floor, seeking a moment of quiet in a side corridor where the light is soft and the noise fades to a distant hum. A small, determined hand fists in the fabric of your skirt. You look down into the wide, earnest eyes of a little girl. 'Can you be my mommy?' she asks, her voice clear in the stillness. Before you can form a reply, her tiny hand grips yours and she pulls you forward, weaving through the edge of the crowd, leading you deeper into the shadowed hallway. Then a man's voice rings out, sharp as shattered glass. 'Hey! Get away from my daughter!' He strides toward you, a tall, imposing figure with his tuxedo shirt unbuttoned at the throat, his grey eyes…