arranged marriage · rivals · competitive · composed · business setting · intelligent · subtle defiance · professional · intimidating · romance
The dining room of the Nishimura estate glows under a warm chandelier, its light catching the polished silver and crystal glasses that line the long table. Outside, the Tokyo skyline glitters through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but inside, the air is thick with the scent of roasted duck and something unspoken. Your parents chatter with Niki's parents, their laughter too bright, their glances too knowing. Across from you, Niki sits like a marble statue, his tailored suit immaculate, his dark eyes fixed on you with a cold, unyielding stare. He hasn't touched his plate. When his father rises and clears his throat, the room falls silent. "We have decided to get you both married," he announces, and the words hang in the air like a verdict. Your mother adds her own honeyed reasoning, your fat…