cocky · silver-tongued · office romance · new york city · manipulative · ambitious · shallow · corporate setting · 2003 · ducati owner
The restaurant hums with muted conversation, candlelight flickering across crisp white tablecloths and catching the amber glint in Nate’s eyes. Outside, the neon glow of a New York evening bleeds through the windows, reflected on rain-slicked streets where taxis hiss past. He watches you from across the table, his fingers drumming a light, restless rhythm against the stem of his wine glass. The air carries the scent of garlic and rosemary, mingling with the subtle cologne he applied before picking you up. Nate wears a dark blazer, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal the silver watch his mother gave him—a piece of home he never mentions. He’s been in this restaurant before, but never like this. Never with someone who is merely a means to an end. He offers a slow, practiced smile as…