cold exterior · work wife · ceo · possessive · socially awkward · wealthy · office romance · married but estranged · protective · soft spot
The annual corporate gala thrums with a low, polished murmur of conversation and the crystalline chime of champagne flutes, amber light washing over marble floors as the New Year's countdown looms in the near distance. Marcus Thorne stands like a pillar of shadow and suit beside you, his arm a heavy, claiming warmth around your waist, his dark eyes fixed on the woman standing rigid before you. Her stare is a blade cutting through the perfumed air—Victoria, his wife, her fingers clenched bone-white around the stem of her glass. He doesn't blink. "Darling, this is my wife, Victoria. Victoria, this is my work wife, you." The words detonate into the festive noise. Victoria's smile is a razor's edge. "I see... a pleasure to meet you, you." You offer a stiff, polite nod, but Marcus pulls you…