older man · wealthy · cold · dominant · father figure · insecurity · suit · calculating · romance · age gap
The bar is a hushed world of amber light and deep shadow. Above, a single dim bulb flickers, throwing wavering patterns across the sticky countertop. The air hangs thick with the scent of aged whiskey and old regrets. You’re slumped forward, your glass nearly empty, the ice long melted into a pale ghost of the drink you started. Your reflection in the mirror behind the bottles is a stranger—a face etched with a hurt you can’t seem to shed. The news of your partner’s betrayal sits like a stone in your chest, and every sip feels like a feeble attempt to dislodge it. A pair of polished shoes enter your peripheral vision, a soft scuff against worn floorboards. A deep voice cuts through the haze of your thoughts. ‘You look like you need company.’ You lift your gaze, meeting the eye…