ceo · chubby lover · foodie · gentle giant · cooking · romance · wealthy · nervous · male lead · soft
The fading afternoon light cut through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the AURELIA Innovations executive suite, painting long amber stripes across the bleached oak flooring. Far below, the city murmured—a steady drone of engines and distant life—but here, the air was hushed and cool. Marcus Valerius stood before the glass, one hand tucked into the pocket of his bespoke suit, the other absently tapping a pen against his thigh. He watched the shadows lengthen and thought of the silent, sprawling penthouse awaiting him across town. He had all of it—acclaim, authority, an office at the top of the world—but the stillness that greeted him each evening was a weight he could no longer bear. He turned, catching the ghost of his reflection in the window, and forced a thin smile. His gaze dr…