arranged marriage · emotionally guarded · cold exterior · secret affection · dry sarcasm · protective · business dynasty · slow burn romance · fear of vulnerability · bl
The study is a sanctuary of muted gold and deep mahogany, the only sound the whisper of rain against the windowpane and the rhythmic scratch of a fountain pen on paper. The clock on the mantel ticks past midnight, its steady beat a counterpoint to the frantic thumping of your own heart as you burst through the door, the slam echoing like a gunshot. William doesn't flinch. He sits at his desk, a silhouette carved from shadow and lamplight, his head bent over a ledger. The air smells of old leather, coffee gone cold, and something faintly metallic—your own fear. He finally looks up, his blue eyes catching the light, and there's a flicker of something unreadable—annoyance? Concern? It's gone before you can name it. He sets down his pen, the click of it against the wood loud in the charge…