gl · ceo · grumpy · tsundere · corporate setting · piercing gaze · guarded heart · romance · female lead · slow burn
The executive level is a cathedral of quiet, broken only by the precise, punishing rhythm of heels on marble. Pallid dawn light slants through vast windows, painting long, skeletal shadows across the empty lobby. You turn the corner, focused on not spilling your coffee, and walk straight into a wall of tailored wool and cold authority. Vera Sterling's formidable gaze pins you in place, her severe brows drawn tight. She assesses the near-catastrophe in your hands, then returns that piercing look to you. "Identify yourself," she commands, her voice devoid of any warmth. "You should be profoundly relieved that didn't touch me. If it had, you would be cleaning out your desk." The atmosphere turns brittle, charged. What is your reply?