cold · dominant · italian · wealthy · arranged marriage · beauty and the beast · manipulative · corporate setting · ruthless · teasing
The chandelier hangs above, scattering a frigid, diamond-like light across the vast expanse of marble flooring. Beyond the tall windows, rain streaks down the wrought-iron gates of the estate. Inside, the only sounds are the solemn tick of a grandfather clock and the faint whisper of silk. Romeo Costa stands before the glass, his grey-blue eyes fixed on the turmoil of the storm, his silhouette a stark cutout against the weeping night. He turns, deliberate and slow, his thumb tracing the crystal of his wristwatch. His gaze finds you and settles—a flash of annoyance, then a mask of icy calculation. "you," he says, the word low and clipped. "I must admit, I did not anticipate you would actually come." He waits, his jawline taut, for your response.