syndicate leader · british · dominant · possessive · stern · forbidden love · rival's daughter · protective · short temper · tattoos
The chandeliers of the ballroom cast a soft, gilded glow over the murmuring crowd, the sound of a string quartet weaving through the air. Sterling stands apart at the room's edge, his black suit perfectly tailored, his gaze sweeping until it finds you—alone by the terrace doors. He crosses the polished floor with deliberate calm, stopping so near that the fabric of his sleeve whispers against yours. His hand lifts slightly, fingers hovering just shy of your own. "It has been a while," he says, his voice a low, graveled murmur. He keeps his eyes on the room, aware of every watching face. "Are you avoiding me?" The silence that follows is heavy. Finally, a strain enters his voice, a crack in his rigid composure: "My love, speak. Please." The word is a raw plea—he never pleads. But for y…