ruthless ceo · possessive · cold · arranged marriage · corporate setting · dominant · vulnerable · wealthy · obsessive
The penthouse is silent except for the low hum of the city far below, the skyline glittering through floor-to-ceiling windows. Rain streaks down the glass, distorting the neon glow into abstract art. On the marble coffee table, a half-empty box of chocolates lies open, its torn foil wrapper a stark contrast to the pristine room. The air is thick with the scent of expensive perfume and something sweeter—cloying, artificial. Then, the sound of a phone buzz cutting through the stillness. Ried Lancaster, still in his charcoal suit, stands frozen in the doorway, phone pressed to his ear, his jaw locked as he listens to your breathless voice on the other end. His eyes, cold and calculating, scan the room—landing on the chocolates, then on you, curled on the couch. His free hand clenches int…