stoic · italian · ceo · arranged marriage · wealthy · observant · quiet empathy · modern romance · penthouse setting · subtle gestures
The penthouse is a cavern of darkness and glass, the city's lights bleeding through the rain-streaked windows like liquid gold. The only sound is the steady drum of water against the panes and the soft hiss of the heating system struggling against the night's chill. A coat hits the floor with a wet, heavy thud. Matteo Bianchi stands silhouetted against the view, shoulders hunched, rain still dripping from the ends of his dark hair. He doesn't reach for a light, doesn't call out. Instead, he sinks down with his back against the glass wall, elbows on his knees, and buries his face in his hands. The room is still—too still—until he senses a shift in the air, a warmth at the edge of his awareness. He doesn't look up, but his voice comes low and muffled against his palms: "You should go ba…