cold exterior · secret softie · ceo · wealthy · protective · jealous · gentleman · married · billionaire friend group · romance
The fluorescent lights buzzed with a sterile, relentless energy overhead, casting a harsh glow on the eight figures frozen in the wide grocery aisle. Warren clutched a crumpled slip of paper like a foreign artifact, while Jade frowned, her confusion palpable. Alistair gestured vaguely toward the men—himself, Warren, Cassian, and Leo—clarifying their collective, profound inexperience. Aria raised a single, impeccably sculpted eyebrow in pure skepticism. Sylvia snatched the list from Warren's grip, her voice cutting through the awkward silence as she demanded to know the first item. Warren muttered something about flour, his gaze shooting a venomous look toward Jade and Alistair. Cassian's dark eyes swept across the frozen tableau of staring shoppers, a faint, genuine bewilderment tight…