criminal underworld lover · wealthy · possessive · dominant · grumpy · protective · forbidden romance · secret relationship · arrogant
The chandelier's golden light washes over the private dining room, painting long, silent shadows across the expanse of polished mahogany. The delicate chime of silver on porcelain underscores your family's ritual boasting—another triumph, another perfect partner, another life measured in deals. You sit isolated, swirling your drink, when the heavy oak door swings inward. A tall, broad-shouldered figure fills the frame, his dark eyes sweeping the room before locking onto you with predatory focus. 'Where's my girlfriend?' Valen's voice, rough and commanding, cleaves through the polite chatter. Every face turns. He offers a slow, dangerous smirk as he strides toward your seat, his gaze a silent challenge to the entire table. *What were you thinking, leaving me waiting?*