109

109
Rosa’s POV
The ballroom gleamed under the light of a thousand chandeliers, a dazzling display of power and wealth that screamed my family’s influence. These events were routine-a stage for alliances to be maintained, deals to be whispered over glasses of champagne, and enemies to be assessed with polished smiles.
Tonight, though, I wasn’t just representing my father. I was testing Allesio.
I stood near the entrance, wearing a floor-length black gown that hugged me in all the right places, exuding the quiet confidence that was required in this world. Guests filtered in, their faces familiar: allies, rivals, and those who played the dangerous game of pretending to be neither.
Then, there he was. Allesio.
He walked through the arched doors like he owned the place, dressed in a tailored suit that seemed to enhance every ounce of his sharp confidence. His dark hair was slicked back just enough to look refined without losing its edge, and the way his gaze swept the room was both calculated and casual.
As soon as his eyes locked onto mine, I felt the stirrings of a thrill I wasn’t ready to admit.
“You’re on time,” I said when he reached me, tilting my head in greeting.
“I try to be punctual for important events,” he replied smoothly, his lips curving into that infuriatingly charming smile.
“Let’s see if you can survive the night, then,” I said lightly, offering my arm.
To my surprise, he took it without hesitation, his grip warm and steady.
I introduced him to a handful of key players, keeping my tone conversational but watching closely for their reactions to him-and his to them. Allesio handled himself well, nodding in all the right places, his charm as sharp as the glint in his eyes.
“You didn’t tell me you were bringing someone,” Victor said as we approached him. A trusted ally of my father’s, Victor was the kind of man who measured every word and handshake with precision.
“I thought it was time to broaden my horizons,” I replied with a light laugh.
Victor’s eyes flicked to Allesio. “And you are?”
“Allesio. Just a… friend,” he said, extending a hand.
Victor’s brows lifted slightly, but he accepted the handshake. I noticed the way Allesio’s grip was firm but not overly so, a subtle dance of dominance and respect that Victor seemed to appreciate.
“Interesting choice,” Victor said, turning back to me. “I’ll be watching this one.”
“Don’t we always watch everyone?” I replied with a sly smile, and Victor chuckled before moving on.
As we walked away, Allesio leaned closer, his breath brushing my ear. “Friend, huh?”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” I said, though I couldn’t quite keep the smile off my face.
The night progressed, and I began to notice how easily Allesio adapted to this world. He didn’t just blend in; he thrived. The way he spoke to people-calm, confident, and just the right amount of charm-made even the most guarded of my father’s allies lean in to listen.
At one point, I left him briefly to greet a family friend. When I returned, I found him in conversation with Sofia, one of the sharpest women in the room. She was known for sniffing out weakness in an instant, yet there she was, laughing at something he’d said.
“You’re making friends,” I said when I approached, my tone light but curious.
“Only the best ones,” he replied smoothly, his eyes never leaving mine.
Sofia gave me a knowing smile before excusing herself, leaving us alone.
“You’re good at this,” I said, folding my arms.
He shrugged, the motion casual. “It’s not hard when you have an excellent guide.”
“Flattery will only get you so far,” I teased.
“I’ll take my chances.”
The evening wore on, and I started to feel… comfortable. It wasn’t something I often allowed myself in settings like this, where trust was a luxury no one could afford. But Allesio’s presence was different. He didn’t just follow my lead; he matched my energy, meeting me as an equal in a way few ever dared.
Still, I couldn’t ignore the way his eyes lingered on certain interactions. He wasn’t just here to charm my allies-he was observing. Watching.
It was a reminder of why I’d brought him in the first place.
When the crowd began to thin, I led him to the balcony overlooking the city.
“Impressed?” I asked, leaning against the railing.
“With the view or the company?” he countered, stepping beside me.
I rolled my eyes, but the warmth in my chest betrayed me. “Both, I suppose.”
“I’ll take that as a win,” he said, a hint of a grin playing on his lips.
We stood in silence for a moment, the hum of the city below filling the space between us.
“You’ve built something incredible here,” he said after a while, his tone more serious. “Your father must be proud.”
“Maybe,” I said, my voice softer than I intended.
He turned to look at me, his expression unreadable. “You don’t sound sure.”
“It’s complicated,” I admitted. “In this world, nothing is ever straightforward.”
“I get that,” he said, his gaze steady. “But from what I’ve seen tonight, you’re more than capable of handling it.”
Something in his voice made me look at him, really look at him. For a moment, I forgot about the ulterior motives I’d suspected earlier in the night.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
His hand brushed mine on the railing, a fleeting touch that sent a spark up my arm. I didn’t move away.
When we returned to the ballroom, the party was dying down. Allesio stayed by my side until he excused himself to talk to someone he was aquianted with. And that was when Marco thought was the best time to come and fuck me up.
“Rosa,” he greeted with a sickly sweet smile that irritated me and made me want to vomit.
“Get away from me,” I replied, tensing yet giving him a sweet smile.
“Daddy’s princess. You did a great job with this event,” he noted and I scowled at him once more.
“I said get away from me,” I warned.
“I see you’re hanging out with Castillo’s man. Your dad would be interested to note the kind of company you’ve been keeping since you got here.” He flashed his teeth at me in mockery of a grin. I scowled at him.
“Are you threatening me?” I asked, lifting my chin and taking a step closer to him. “People don’t threaten me, Marco. I’m the one who threatens people. Be careful, or you might find yourself drowning in the bottom of the sea.” I took one more step closer to him until I could practically smell the whiskey off his breath. “Now get out of my face.” He glared at me in a way that made me know that he’d want nothing more than to bury me alive right now, but he couldn’t. So he kissed his teeth and walked away.
I turned away, taking in a deep breath only to meet Allesio’s intense eyes darting from me to where Marco was now, and then back to me. He had seen everything. He turned back to the person he had been talking to, smiled at him, and then began to walk towards me.
As the final guests left and the staff began clearing the space, I turned to him.
“Not bad for your first high-profile event,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“Not bad at all,” he agreed, his smile warm.
I wanted to ask what he was thinking, but I stopped myself. I didn’t need to know everything.
As he walked me to the car, I realized that tonight had been more than a test for him. It had been a test for me, too.
And I wasn’t sure who had passed.