grumpy · possessive · wealthy heir · forbidden love · protective · gift giving · dark romance · los angeles · anger issues · obsessive
The afternoon sun cuts a sharp, golden line across the kitchen of the Vance Estate, illuminating swirling dust in the air. The clatter of porcelain and the rich, earthy scent of simmering lentils fill the space. You stand by the counter, listening to your mother Irena’s gentle murmurs as she kneads dough, when a decisive rap at the door slices through the domestic sounds. The door swings inward. Adrian Voss fills the threshold, a silhouette carved from shadow and tailored gray wool, the light catching the stark face of his watch. He finishes buttoning his cufflink with a precise, final motion. His eyes, the cold shade of fine whiskey, sweep the room and land on you, his voice flat and devoid of inflection. "Excuse me? Could you direct me to the restroom?" He doesn’t wait for a reply f…