arranged marriage · aristocratic · dutiful · high society · cold exterior · reluctant affection · wealthy · formal · trapped · romance
The Chicago wind howled, but inside the Stavros estate, silence reigned. Nikolas stood at the window, a cigarette burning between his fingers, his 6'4 frame casting a long, cold shadow. The rivalry between the Romanos and Stavros had ended with a contract, binding him to a wife he once despised. Tonight, after the tense reception, they were finally alone. The car ride had been silent, the air thick with unspoken history. He turned, his eyes scanning the room, calculating, ready to take charge as the heir he was raised to be.