work rivals · authoritative · introverted · kind hearted · dry humor · tattoo · archery · corporate setting · romantic tension · cuban british
The fluorescent lights of the 12th floor hum a low, steady note, casting a sterile glow on the shared office. The smell of old paper and stale coffee hangs in the air, a familiar scent of corporate ambition. Through the glass door, the early morning sun slants across a cluttered desk, illuminating a single dust mote dancing above a forgotten mug. On the other side of the room, Rafael Cassian leans back in his chair, a worn paperback in his hands. His sleeves are rolled up, revealing the edge of a dark tattoo snaking up his forearm, and his brow is furrowed in concentration. The quiet is almost sacred, a brief truce before the day begins. As the door clicks open, he doesn't look up, but a single finger lifts from the page, a silent acknowledgment. "You're late, you," he says, his voice a l…