110

110
Allesio’s POV
The event was all gloss and shine, the kind of gathering that screamed wealth, power, and a hundred secrets whispered between champagne flutes. It wasn’t my first time in rooms like this, but tonight felt different. Not because of the high-profile faces or the sharp undercurrent of danger, but because of Rosa.
I watched her move through the crowd, effortless in her charm, commanding in her presence. She was magnetic, pulling everyone’s attention without even trying. It was fascinating to see her in her element, but more than that, it gave me a glimpse of her world-a world I was supposed to infiltrate.
But as I stood by her side, observing and calculating, I found myself distracted. Not by the glittering chandeliers or the murmured alliances being forged in the corners, but by the way her lips tightened when she saw *him*.
It happened quickly, almost imperceptibly. A man approached-sharp suit, sharper eyes, his smile as thin as the blade he probably had hidden somewhere. Rosa’s expression didn’t change, not really, but I caught the subtle tension in her jaw, the way her shoulders stiffened for half a second before she smoothed it out.
He leaned in close when they spoke, too close for someone she liked, and though they acted normal, showing each other shitty smiles, her fingers clenched the stem of her glass just a little too tightly.
I didn’t know who he was, but I knew what tension looked like. And this? This wasn’t a casual interaction.
When the man finally walked away, Rosa turned to me, her mask firmly back in place. I gave a smile to the person I had been speaking with before walking to her. She smiled at me, even though she knew I had seen everhthing. She smiled at me like she didn’t want to talk about it, like nothing had happened. And so I smiled back.
I nodded, filing the moment away for later.
The night died down, and I played my part well-charming her allies, making mental notes of who gravitated toward her and who didn’t. But the image of that man, and the way Rosa had reacted to him, lingered in the back of my mind.
When we finally left the event, the car ride back to the mansion was quiet. Rosa stared out the window, her expression unreadable in the dim light. I waited, giving her space, but the curiosity burned in my chest.
“Busy night,” I said casually, breaking the silence.
She glanced at me, one eyebrow raised. “They always are.”
I leaned back in my seat, watching her carefully. “You seemed… tense earlier. With that guy in the gray suit. Who was he?”
Her eyes flicked to mine, sharp and guarded. “Why do you ask?”
I shrugged, keeping my tone light. “It’s my job to notice things. He didn’t seem like your favorite person.”
For a moment, I thought she wouldn’t answer. Her fingers traced patterns on the leather seat, her gaze distant.
“His name is Marco,” she said finally, her voice measured. “He’s… family.”
“Family,” I repeated. “Doesn’t seem like you’re close.”
Her lips twitched, a humorless smile ghosting across her face. “Not all family gets along, Allesio. I’m sure you know that.”
I did. Better than most.
“Fair enough,” I said, watching her closely. “But he’s not just any family, is he?”
Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought she’d shut me out completely. But then she sighed, leaning back in her seat.
“Marco and I don’t see eye to eye,” she admitted. “He thinks he deserves a bigger piece of the pie, and he’s not afraid to make that known. My father tolerates him because… well, because he’s family. But that doesn’t mean I have to.”
She didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t press her. Still, it was a small crack in the armor she wore so well.
“Sounds complicated,” I said after a beat.
She let out a soft laugh, though there was no humor in it. “Everything in this world is complicated.”
Back at the mansion, I followed Rosa into the kitchen, both of us craving something to take the edge off. She poured herself a glass of wine while I opted for whiskey, the silence between us oddly comfortable.
“Thanks for coming tonight,” she said finally, her voice softer now.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I replied, leaning against the counter. “You clean up nicely, by the way.”
She rolled her eyes, but the faintest blush crept into her cheeks. “Don’t push your luck.”
“Who, me?” I grinned, taking a sip of my drink.
Her smile faded slightly, and she studied her glass, turning it slowly in her hands. “You did well tonight,” she said quietly. “Better than I expected.”
“Glad to know I exceeded expectations,” I said lightly, though her words sparked something deeper in me.
She looked up then, her eyes meeting mine. “This world… it’s not easy. People here don’t trust easily, and for good reason.”
“I noticed,” I said, my tone more serious now. “But you handle it better than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
Her gaze lingered on mine for a moment before she looked away, a shadow of something I couldn’t quite name passing over her features.
“It’s a game,” she said, almost to herself. “One I’ve been playing for a long time.”
“And Marco?” I asked carefully, steering the conversation back.
Her grip tightened on the glass, but her voice remained steady. “Marco thinks he can play better. He’s wrong.”
There was a fierceness in her tone that made it clear she wasn’t just talking about family squabbles. This was deeper-territorial, personal.
“Sounds like you’ve got it handled,” I said, offering her a small smile.
“I always do,” she replied, though there was a weariness in her voice that betrayed her confidence.
**
As the night stretched on, we found ourselves sitting on the couch in the living room, the bottle of wine nearly empty between us. Rosa seemed more relaxed now, her guard lowered just enough for me to see glimpses of the person beneath the armor.
“Do you ever wish things were different?” I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop myself.
She tilted her head, studying me. “Different how?”
“Less complicated. Less… tense.”
She laughed, a soft, genuine sound that made something tighten in my chest. “If things were less complicated, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”
I smiled, though I couldn’t help but wonder if that was entirely true. “Still, it must get exhausting.”
She didn’t answer right away, her gaze fixed on the fire crackling in the hearth. “It does,” she admitted finally. “But it’s the life I was born into. There’s no changing that.”
Her honesty caught me off guard, and for a moment, I forgot why I was here. Forgot the real reason I’d been so focused on gaining her trust.
“You’re stronger than most people I know,” I said, meaning every word.
She glanced at me, something unreadable in her eyes. “You’re full of surprises, Allesio.”
“Good ones, I hope.”
She smiled, and for the first time this night, it reached her eyes. “Maybe.”