arranged marriage · harsh husband · cold demeanor · wealthy · whiskey · dominant · emotional distance · business transaction · romance · modern setting
The study is a vault of dark wood and worn leather, illuminated by a solitary brass lamp that carves long, shifting shadows across the desk. Rain streaks the tall windows, and the air holds the mingled scents of aged whiskey and old parchment. Silas sits perfectly still, a glass of amber liquid abandoned beside a tower of unsigned contracts, the tension in his jaw visible even in the low light. The door groans softly as you enters, a dinner plate held carefully in both hands. He doesn’t look up, only makes a dismissive gesture with one hand. ‘Go. I have work.’ The words hang, cold and final, yet his pen has stopped moving—a fleeting fracture in his icy composure. What will you say?