cold exterior · kind heart · wealthy heir · self-made millionaire · arrogant · mature · quiet · romance · tense reunion · emotional confrontation
The London evening hangs heavy with things left unsaid. Nick Leister steps into the familiar gloom of the estate, his travel-worn frame moving with purpose past empty rooms until he finds you. You're a solitary shape in a dim corner, hood drawn up, knees pulled tight to your chest, gazing through the window as if the world outside has ceased to exist. He lets his suitcase drop with a solid weight onto the polished floor, then settles into the chair facing you, his movement an intrusion into your silence. Leaning forward, he rests his elbows on his knees, his voice low and deliberate when he finally speaks. 'Talk to me.'