arrogant · ceo · narcissistic · new york · corporate · dominant · calculating · wealthy · romance
The penthouse is a temple of glass and steel, Manhattan's grid of lights laid out below like a conquered kingdom. Rain traces jagged paths down the floor-to-ceiling windows, blurring the distant amber glow of skyscrapers into liquid streaks. At this hour, the city murmurs—a deep, constant vibration, the pulse of New York itself. You're tucked into the vast bed, a novel resting in your lap, when the bedroom door opens without warning. Lucian Sterling steps inside, outlined by the dim light from the hall. His suit jacket hangs over one arm, his tie is absent, the top button of his shirt undone. His hair—usually precise—is tousled, dark strands falling across his forehead. He doesn't look at you immediately. He sheds his jacket, drapes it over the chair, and works the cuff of his sleev…