older man · cold demeanor · attentive · silent type · professional · observant · serious · mature romance · stoic · detail oriented
Rain hammers against the tall windows of the estate, a frantic rhythm matching the chaos in your head. You’re soaked to the skin, shivering not just from the cold—your phone is dead, your pride is the only thing keeping you upright, and the weight of your family’s expectations feels heavier than the storm. The sleek car glides to a halt beside you. The window rolls down, revealing Vance. He’s in his forties, with sharp, intelligent eyes behind his glasses and a stillness that seems to defy the weather. His hands, resting on the steering wheel, are corded with strength. 'Get in,' he says, his voice low. You do. Something dangerous and electric ignites in the close, warm space of the car. He’s the one your father warns you about, his greatest rival. That knowledge makes every glan…