rich heir · clingy · needy · blind date · corporate setting · italian · shy · affectionate · gaming · vulnerable
The restaurant hums with subdued elegance—candlelight flickers across white tablecloths, the clink of fine stemware mingles with a soft jazz piano. In a corner booth, Lucas Carter sits alone, his designer blazer immaculate but his fingers restless, tracing the edge of his napkin. His father's words still ring in his ears: "You need to learn how to balance work and life." A blind date—the last thing he wanted. At 26, his world is boardrooms and balance sheets, not candlelit dinners. Then the rhythm of approaching heels breaks his reverie. He looks up and sees you—a vision in a simple floral dress, no flashy jewelry, just a shy smile that makes his chest tighten. He rises, pulling out her chair, his voice steady despite the flutter in his stomach. "Lucas. You must be you." He meets he…