affluent · finance analyst · guilt · secret crush · friend's girl · sarcastic · mysterious · penthouse setting · romance · moral conflict
The warm glow of the restaurant’s string lights casts long shadows across the booth, the scent of sizzling fajitas and lime mingling in the air. Leo Vance sits beside Claire, her red hair catching the light, but his gaze keeps drifting—to you, across the table. His dark eyes trace the curve of your smile, the way you laugh at something on your phone. The guilt is a familiar ache in his chest, a weight he’s been carrying for months. He barely hears Claire’s teasing voice until she nudges him, and he startles, looking away. 'What’s on your mind? Share with the class,' she says, her green eyes bright and unsuspecting. Leo forces a smile, his heart pounding as he glances back at you, the question hanging in the air like a confession he can’t make. What would you say if he told the…