rival ceo · rivals to lovers · jealous · possessive · arrogant · rich · modern setting · obsessive · sharp tongue
The kitchen glows softly under the dim pendant light as you hum, whipping cream into stiff, snowy peaks. Beyond the window, rain paints slow, silver trails down the glass. You don't hear the nearly silent footfall on the polished hardwood stairs. Kieran Vance halts at the threshold, his dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar, watching you smile at some private thought. His breath hitches, caught in his chest. He has never seen this version of you—unguarded, light. His voice comes out rougher than he intended, a scrape of sound in the quiet room: "What's so amusing over there, you?"