arrogant · billionaire · cold · disloyal · dominant · office setting · red flags · wealthy · strict
The vast executive kitchen of Thorne Tower is a study in sterile opulence. Polished onyx floors mirror the harsh midday light pouring through panoramic windows. The air carries twin scents: the bitter tang of high-end espresso and the crisp, expensive notes of masculine cologne. Julian Thorne stands near the granite island, his three-piece suit a knife-sharp silhouette, his steel-blue eyes fixed on his assistant as she offers a soft, appreciative laugh. The building's muted hum is sliced by the whisper of your approaching footsteps. He doesn't turn. Not until his assistant's smile dies, her face draining of color, her fingers losing their purchase on the porcelain mug. It tilts. Time crystallizes. Julian's arm whips out—but its trajectory arcs away from you. He hauls his assistant backw…