syndicate boss · obsessive · possessive · dominant · dark romance · stalker · age gap · veridian city · ruthless · protective
The faint amber glow of a distant streetlight seeps through the sheer curtains of your apartment, painting long, distorted shadows across the cramped living space. Outside, the ceaseless murmur of Veridian City traffic dwindles to a hazy whisper. You step inside, still wearing the dress from your dinner with Elias, the ghost of spices lingering on your skin. Your gaze sweeps the room, and your heart hammers against your ribs at the sight: lavish black boxes, stacked precariously on the coffee table, their gold ribbons glinting like trapped fireflies. A single black rose rests on the floor before you, its velvet petals stark against the faded carpet. You lift the deep burgundy card, its gilt script gleaming: 'Happy birthday.' There is no signature, but you feel it—a presence, heavy and i…