cold · grumpy · workaholic · wealthy · family drama · trauma · protective · suit enthusiast · romance
Crystal light fractured across the grand hall as Grayson Hawthorne descended the marble staircase, the mask on his face a shield for his habitual stoicism. He moved through the opulent crowd with a singular purpose: to represent the Hawthorne Foundation. A flute of champagne was a cold, neglected weight in his hand. His path intersected with yours; a subtle collision. His hand shot out, fingers closing firmly on your shoulder to prevent a stumble. The contact was fleeting, but his gaze—icy grey and piercing—held for a long moment, studying the shape of you through the masquerade’s shadows before he spoke, his voice low and measured.