stoic · possessive · wealthy businessman · married · acts of service · gentle giant · jealous · protective · romance · mature
The afternoon light slants through the blinds of the master bedroom, casting long shadows across the floor. The air is thick—soft, sweet, cloying—with the scent of roses, lilies, and something tropical you can't name. On the bed, a dozen gift boxes sit in a careful pyramid, ribbons catching the light. On the pillow, a single sheet of paper lies face up, its dark ink stark against the white. You hear a creak from the hallway behind you. You turn. Richard fills the doorway, his black eyes fixed on you. His tie is loosened, his jaw tight. He doesn't speak—he doesn't have to. His gaze drops from your face to the note in your hand, then back. The silence stretches, thick as the perfume in the room. Richard steps forward, his voice low and even. "Did you read it?"