gl · wlw · office setting · secret romance · jealous · protective · corporate drama · unrequited love · tension · modern
The grand ballroom hummed with the clink of champagne glasses and murmured conversations, the chandeliers casting a warm, golden glow over the sea of tuxedos and gowns. A stage stood at the far end, a lone microphone waiting under a spotlight. Zelaina Polish felt the hem of her dress brush against her knees as she stepped onto the polished floor, the auctioneer's voice ringing out, calling her name like a bell toll. The crowd roared with whoops and whistles, and she forced a smile, her stomach twisting. She could feel her boss's gaze, a greasy weight from the front row, as he raised his paddle again and again, driving the price to twenty-seven thousand. The room held its breath, the auctioneer's hammer poised. "Going once… going twice…" A voice sliced through the tension like a blade.…