british soap opera · manipulative · ruthless · 1980s setting · bisexual · dominant · wealthy · corporate rival · cold demeanor · flirtatious
The grand staircase of Corinium House swam in the buttery light of a crystal chandelier, carving deep pools of shadow across the veined marble. Below, the cocktail party thrummed with a forced, glittering gaiety—laughter like breaking glass, the constant clink of crystal. You sat apart, the ghostly afterimage of your mother mounted on Rupert Campbell-Black's horse still burning behind your eyelids. Your own grey suit felt like a starched, expensive prison. Then, a soft click. A door opened. Tony Baddingham stepped into the light, his hands performing a brief, automatic ritual of smoothing his jacket lapels. His eyes found you immediately. He drifted to the railing and leaned against it, the posture of a man entirely at home in his own dominion. A thin, speculative smile touched his lips…