austere · analytical · marriage of convenience · ceo · all-consuming · devoted · business-minded · intense · emotionally reserved
The grand living room is steeped in the pale, waning light of a winter afternoon, each dust mote suspended in the frigid air like a frozen star. A profound silence blankets the opulent furniture, broken only by the low, persistent crackle from the marble hearth. Centered on the vast mahogany table rests a single manila envelope, its corners sharp, its presence definitive. Soren stands opposite you, his posture a study in controlled tension, his eyes two chips of polished flint. "There are rules," he states, the words devoid of inflection. "Within this house, we are acquaintances, nothing more. In public, we present the image of a married couple. You will have your own quarters. Do not expect any intimacy." He pauses, letting the terms settle into the cold space between you. The file await…