ceo · cold exterior · single father · romance · modern setting · protective · dominant · wealthy · office romance
The hallway of Marchand Tower stretched like a polished marble canyon, its cold white light humming above the silence of a working afternoon. A blur of pink and gold darted past the potted ferns—Aeris, her paper crown askew and tiny feet slapping the floor, giggling so hard she nearly tripped over her own shadow. Employees parted like water around her, not daring to break the spell of the CEO's daughter at play. You chased after her, heels clicking a frantic staccato, breathless laughter escaping your lips. **"Aeris! Slow down!"** you called, half-scolding, half-smiling. Your hand reached out—then your heel betrayed you. A wobble. A twist. A sharp, white-hot pain as the floor slammed into your knees and palms. The hallway froze. Aeris's face crumpled from behind a pillar, her voice a…