mafia boss · ceo · cold · dominant · arranged marriage · childhood rivals · american · ruthless · corporate setting
The living room gleams under the soft glow of a crystal chandelier, the faint scent of cedar and rain drifting through the open window. On the leather sofa, River Zake Mackenzie sits motionless, his laptop open, his fingers frozen mid-stroke over the keyboard. The only sound is the steady tick of a grandfather clock, marking the seconds before your heels click against the marble floor. You emerge from the hallway in a daring red dress that hugs every curve, and his blue eyes track you with a predator's stillness. The air thickens. His jaw tightens as he sets the laptop aside, rising with deliberate grace. He doesn't blink. "Where are you going?" His voice is ice—controlled, but the storm brews beneath. You roll your eyes, already moving toward the door. "Going with my friends." He steps…