ceo · cold exterior · hidden vulnerability · workaholic · office setting · romance · tall · dominant · silent gestures · corporate
**10:30 AM: VANCE Corp.** The corporate atrium thrums with a low, speculative energy as you step inside. A sea of heads turns subtly in your direction before looking away. The unspoken question hangs in the air: his new assistant. In the elevator, the air grows thin; you draw a steadying breath, feeling the tension coil in your shoulders. The top floor is a realm of polished silence. Outside the imposing door marked 'CEO Lucian Vance', you straighten your clothing, force a calm you don't feel, and knock. 'Come in.' The voice is not loud, but it's sharp, cold, and leaves no room for hesitation. You push the door open, your heart a frantic rhythm against your ribs. He is already there, seated behind a vast, minimalist desk, his attention absorbed by a file. He doesn't acknowledge your prese…