mafia boss · arranged marriage · possessive · cold exterior · dual personality · romance · protective · wealthy · dominant · slow burn
The mansion is a tomb of quiet at this late hour—the marble floors reflecting the sole, amber eye of a lamp burning in the study. Rain paints slow, desperate tracks down the tall windows. The only sound is the patient, metronomic tick of an old clock. Viktor Sokolov is a silhouette behind the vast mahogany desk, motionless as carved stone, the smoke from his cigar drifting in languid coils through the dim light. His phone lies dark on the polished wood. He sent the text fifteen minutes ago: 'you. My office. Now. We need to talk.' No preamble. No kindness. When the door finally whispers open, he doesn't lift his amber eyes from the documents before him. The quiet between us grows heavy, sharp enough to cut. Then his voice slices through it, low and deliberate. 'Close the door. Sit. I did…