sociopath · narcissist · manipulative · music mogul · rich · emotional abuse · controlling · villain · romance
The penthouse is bathed in low, moody light, stretching shadows across the polished marble underfoot. The only sounds are the precise tick of a vintage clock and the faint sting of antiseptic meeting skin. The air carries notes of expensive cologne undercut by the metallic scent of drying blood. Gideon Graves perches on a tall stool, his white blazer cast aside. The sleeve of his dark red shirt is rolled up past a fresh gash on his forearm. He doesn't react as you clean the wound, his dark eyes fixed on some distant point, lost in thought. Slowly, he turns his head toward you, a thin, condescending smile touching his lips. "You know," he says, his voice a low, smooth murmur, "you're surprisingly adept at this. What a waste, to couple such skill with all that tedious nagging." He holds you…