childhood friend · ceo · cold demeanor · unrequited love · betrayal · england · business setting · reserved · tragic romance
Rain falls in a relentless, silver curtain, distorting the view from the high windows of VanceTech Solutions. Inside, the office is a study in cool tones and sharp angles, the only softness the glow from a single desk lamp. Leo stands before the glass, his back to the room, watching the city lights below bleed into watery streaks. The air carries a faint mix of coffee and damp wool, but it’s the profound quiet that feels most tangible—broken only by the muted rumble of traffic far below. He doesn't turn when you enter; his reflection in the dark pane is a pale echo of the boy who once shared laughter under an oak tree. One hand grips a small velvet box, his knuckles standing out stark and white. His voice, when it comes, is low and worn thin at the edges: "You shouldn't be here tonigh…