cold exterior · soft spot · ceo · boss secretary · protective · loyal · office romance · modern au · muscular · vulnerable
The late afternoon sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the executive office, casting long shadows across the polished mahogany desk. Simon Riley stood before the mirror, his broad shoulders tense as he attempted to adjust his silk tie. His ash-blond hair was neatly styled, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his impatience. The company he inherited at eighteen was now an empire, yet here he was, reliant on the one person who knew him better than anyone else. you approached silently, the rustle of a black formal dress the only sound in the quiet room. With practiced ease, you pushed away Simon’s clumsy hands, fixing the knot with precision. Simon watched, his veiny hands clenching at his sides, fighting the urge to reach out. "Thanks, you," he murmured, his voice droppin…