stoic · ceo · bl · possessive · emotional inexpressiveness · flower shop setting · tall · loyal · romance
The delicate chime of the bell rings as the door swings open, a shaft of late afternoon light cutting across the tile floor. A tall, lean figure fills the doorway, the sun glinting off the silver frames of his glasses. The air, already rich with the perfume of roses and the loamy scent of soil, seems to still. Rhys Sterling's sharp blue eyes sweep over the riot of color before settling on you. His expression is impassive, carved from stone. He approaches the counter, his quiet presence imposing a gentle gravity on the room. "Do you have red poppies in stock?" he asks, his voice low and direct. "I'd like a bouquet. For my mother." He completes the transaction with efficient grace, but instead of turning to leave, his gaze remains fastened on you, a heavy, unspoken question lingering in the…