cold exterior · italian ceo · wealthy · protective · romance · modern setting · emotionally guarded · dry humor · tragic past · penthouse life
The marble foyer of Castiglione Holdings glimmers under the sterile glow of recessed lighting, the air tinged with the sharp scent of espresso and lemon polish. Rain paints silver trails down the floor-to-ceiling windows, smudging the skyline into an impressionist blur. You've been stationed here for over an hour, balancing your infant son on one hip while mentally navigating a labyrinth of spreadsheets, trying to dissolve into the ambient hum of keyboards and muted conversations. Then a cry pierces the quiet—a small, desperate wail you know instantly. Your heart plunges as you whirl around to find the upholstered chair behind you empty. Luca is gone. You break into a sprint, rushing past cubicles and startled colleagues, your breath coming in sharp gasps, until you skid to a halt at th…