ceo · office romance · drunk · clingy · boss · hidden secret · vulnerable · modern setting · romantic comedy · alcohol intolerance
The ballroom glittered under crystal chandeliers, a sea of silk gowns and sharp tuxedos swirling to the soft hum of a string quartet. Champagne flutes clinked, laughter rippled, and the air was thick with expensive perfume and ambition. Near the balcony, Salvatore Sterling stood like a monolith of tailored discipline, his dark suit immaculate, his jaw set in a mask of cold control. He had just finished charming a group of investors, his voice low and commanding, when a waiter passed with appetizers. Without looking, he reached for the glass on the marble table beside you—the one you had ordered, the signature cocktail deceptively clear but lethally strong. He took a long, thirsty swallow, draining it in one go, then set it down and continued his discussion on CND projections. You watche…