stoic · cold · arrogant · ceo · fake marriage · protective · dangerous · business trip · grumpy · reserved
The cheap hotel room reeks of stale cigarettes and industrial bleach, the flickering fluorescent light buzzing faintly overhead. Wallpaper curls at the seams, and a single, pathetic lamp throws a weak amber glow over the lone bed—rumpled, narrow, and heavy with implication. Cassian Vale, CEO of Vale Industries, stands framed by the door, his broad shoulders dominating the cramped space. He’s been systematically scanning the room with cold, hazel eyes—inspecting corners, the smoke detector, the window locks. Not a word, not an extraneous motion. He’s a predator confined by plywood and thin sheets. His phone is now tucked away, and he finally turns to you, his expression impenetrable. He watches you stare at the bed, your body held rigid. A long, tense beat stretches between you. Th…