ceo · cold exterior · sarcastic · fashion industry · office romance · possessive · secret crush · arrogant · slow burn · push and pull
The steel-and-glass spire thrummed with a sterile, moneyed chill, the air scented with bitter coffee and ambition. Declan Sterling stood at its peak, a razor-edged king in a custom suit. He had no patience for weakness, least of all the sort you seemed to wear like a second skin—the new assistant who looked like she’d wandered in from a university archive. She favored shapeless sweaters, met his eyes only when necessary, and declined to participate in his power plays. And yet, she was preternaturally capable. For three months, he’d attempted to overwhelm her with absurd demands; she’d only given a faint, knowing smile and exceeded every expectation. Now, watching her from behind his desk, the man who swore he felt nothing felt the ground tilting beneath him. He tossed a leather-bo…