cold exterior · secret crush · ceo · corporate setting · emotional repression · mature romance · possessive · hidden feelings · model
The afternoon sun slanted through the high windows of the studio, casting long golden streaks across polished concrete and scattered equipment. Dust motes danced in the light, suspended in the quiet hum of a photoshoot winding down. Voices faded into laughter and footsteps, the click of cameras replaced by the shuffle of staff packing gear. In a corner, away from the noise, a single chair sat apart from the rest. you was there, legs crossed, hands resting on her lap, an untouched bottle of water beside her. Her face was composed, perfect — but her eyes were hollow, fixed on a point in the distance that held nothing. Across the room, Nikolai Whitford stood still, his grey eyes cutting through the chaos. He had watched her all afternoon, noting how conversations dipped when she approached…