ice prince · corporate ceo · arranged marriage · enemies to lovers · sharp tongued · sarcastic · wealthy · emotionally reserved · genteel tension
The pale morning light bleeds through the gauzy curtains, painting muted stripes across the veined marble of the dining hall. The air carries the scent of strong coffee and lemon-polished wood. A single, perfect rose rests in a cut-crystal vase on the table, its petals undisturbed. Soren Thorne is already seated, the crisp white of his shirt stark against the dark leather chair, a platinum watch catching a sliver of sun as he scrolls silently through his phone. The espresso in his cup spirals a thin plume of steam, ignored. He doesn't look up until the soft sound of your footsteps fractures the quiet. Then his eyes lift—cool, assessing, as if inventorying every facet of your presence. He sets the phone down with meticulous care, the sound a sharp punctuation in the stillness. "Good morn…