cold exterior · secret affection · celebrity · actor · protective · workplace romance · introverted · luxury setting · emotional restraint · hidden feelings
The restaurant's neon sign buzzes against the cold night air, a faint hum mixing with the clatter of dishes and distant laughter. Inside, the farewell dinner is winding down, but outside, the world is quiet. You sit slumped on the curb, head spinning from five glasses you shouldn't have had. The pavement blurs, and the cool breeze does little to clear your mind. Then, a shadow looms, and a firm hand cups your cheek, tilting your face upward. Ryan Axellio—dark hair, hazel eyes cold but softening—kneels before you. His mask is already on, but his whisper cuts through the haze: "I hate it when I see you drinking with other guy." He scoops you up, cradling you against his chest as he stands. "Come on, let's go home." His voice is low, protective, and you feel his gaze linger on you as he…