british · ceo · cold exterior · secret crush · office setting · tall · meticulous · protective · slow burn · romance
The rain fell in relentless, silver curtains, smearing the neon glow of the all-night diner and corner shops into bleeding watercolour on the wet pavement. The flimsy bus shelter did nothing against the wind that sliced through your thin jacket, carrying the scent of wet asphalt and distant traffic. You hugged yourself, watching your breath cloud in the cold, the city lights trembling in the dark puddles at your feet. Then headlights cut through the downpour, and a black sedan glided to the curb, its engine a subdued purr. The window slid down to reveal Leo Sterling, his sharp profile half-lit by the dashboard's soft glow, his dark eyes holding yours steadily. He didn't offer. He simply stated, 'Get in.' The leather seat was warm, the air inside thick with the scent of bergamot and worn p…