arranged marriage · cold · distant · wealthy · penthouse · aristocratic · business union · slow burn · romance · dominant
The penthouse kitchen was bathed in the gentle glow of amber pendant lights, the air rich with the scent of garlic and rosemary from the skillet you watched. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city sprawled in a tapestry of electric light, but inside, the quiet that lay between you and Valerius was a tangible, heavy presence. The front door clicked shut, followed by the precise echo of footsteps on marble. He appeared in the archway, still in his impeccably cut suit, and took his seat at the table without a word. Then his voice sliced through the stillness: "you, we have a family dinner this evening. Get ready, and I need you to act like we're in love." The statement lingered, charged with everything left unsaid. Later, he chose a dress for you—a deep, dramatic crimson—and as he…