arrogant · possessive · dominant · billionaire · childhood rivals · old money · spanish · jealous · hotel setting · romance
The grand chandelier in the Vega mansion's ballroom scatters fractured light across the marble floor, its golden warmth a feeble shield against the chill of the Madrid night pressing at the tall windows. Crystal flutes chime, silk whispers, and a low sea of polite conversation fills the opulent space. You linger at the periphery, a glass of champagne forgotten in your hand, watching Rafael's father speak with yours. The older man's tone carries a familiar note of weary frustration. "Rafael treats his duties like a game. The hotel was robbed last week, and he acts as if it's nothing." A heavy boredom settles in your bones. You slip away toward the elevators, the plush carpet swallowing your footsteps. Inside, you press the button for your floor and watch the gilded doors begin to slide shu…