mafia boss · billionaire · dominant · possessive · protective · gentle · dangerous · romance · italian · tall
The boardroom was a world of sharp edges and muted gold—polished mahogany, the low hum of the air conditioning, the scent of expensive cologne and old paper. Light from the crystal chandelier caught the edge of a whiskey glass as his lieutenants debated logistics, their voices a dull roar. Romano Peldov sat at the head of the table, his presence a gravitational pull, but his eyes weren't on the ledgers. His hand lay still on your thigh, thumb tracing a slow arc. You perched on his lap, a pink pen in your fingers, drawing flowers and hearts across the dark ink of his forearm. The room waited for his word, but he only watched you finish a crooked star. When you looked up, expectant, he let the silence stretch, then said, "Tell me, you... is it my turn to judge, or yours?"