=At night in Falcone Estate, in one of the luxurious guest rooms, Harvey was busily packing his suitcase, humming a tune under his breath. His older brother, Rowan, stood nearby, his face an unreadable mask of calm.
Kyle, Rowan’s assistant, was a different story. He was pacing back and forth near the doorway, his heart racing with anxiety. He knew Rowan well enough to recognize the storm brewing beneath that calm exterior.
As Rowan spoke, his voice was steady, almost detached. “When are you going tomorrow?”
“At nine in the morning, big brother,” Harvey replied cheerfully, folding a shirt and placing it neatly in his suitcase.
Rowan nodded. “I will go with you.”
Harvey paused, looking up at Rowan with a raised eyebrow. “I am not a kid, brother. I can handle this on my own.”
“There’ll be the full Moretti family and their alliance members,” Rowan pointed out.
Harvey looked at Rowan meaningfully, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Big brother, just say you want to go to see Amara.”
Rowan’s expression didn’t change, but his voice softened slightly. “That’s also the reason.”
Harvey chuckled. “Brother, it won’t look too nice.”
Rowan frowned, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice. “Why it won’t look nice?”
Harvey’s smile faded slightly as he explained, “Amara said she doesn’t want you to come.”
At those words, Rowan’s face darkened, his calm facade cracking just enough to reveal the simmering anger beneath. Without another word, he turned and walked out of Harvey’s room, leaving a tense silence in his wake.
Kyle watched him go, his mind racing with panicked thoughts. Oh no, this is bad. This is really bad. Why did Harvey have to say that? Now he’s going to brood and plot and maybe even do something reckless. What if he decides to crash the wedding? Oh, sweet heavens, that would be a disaster.
Kyle’s inner monologue continued to spiral as he followed Rowan down the hallway, trying to come up with a plan to diffuse the situation. What do I do? Should I talk to him? No, talking to him now is like poking a bear with a stick. Should I call someone? Who? Oh, maybe I should text Amara. Wait, no, that’s a terrible idea. What if she thinks I’m meddling?
As Rowan strode purposefully towards his study, Kyle found himself practically jogging to keep up. The tension in the air was palpable, and Kyle’s imagination ran wild with worst-case scenarios.
Maybe I should just… hide? No, that’s cowardly. Okay, deep breath, Kyle. Think. You’re his assistant, you’re supposed to assist. What would be helpful right now? Tea? No, too cliche. Whiskey? Might make things worse. Oh, maybe some calming music?
As Rowan entered his study and closed the door behind him, Kyle stood outside, wringing his hands. Okay, music might be good. But what kind of music? Something classical? Jazz? Oh, what if he hates jazz? What if it makes him angrier?
Kyle’s indecision paralyzed him for a moment, and he found himself muttering under his breath, “Why did I ever take this job? Oh right, because it pays well. But is it worth the stress? Is anything worth this stress?”
Meanwhile, inside the study, Rowan sat at his desk, staring at a framed photo of Amara. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions-anger, frustration, longing. He knew that his feelings for her were complicated, and her rejection only made things worse. But he couldn’t help it. Despite everything, he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
Kyle took a deep breath, steeling himself before he knocked gently on the door. “Boss? Do you need anything?”
There was a long pause before Rowan responded, his voice low and controlled. “No, Kyle. Just leave me alone for a while.”
Kyle winced, feeling a pang of sympathy for his boss. “Alright, but if you need anything… I’ll be just outside.”
He retreated down the hallway, his mind still racing. Okay, maybe I should prepare for the worst. Just in case. Maybe I should have the car ready. Or maybe I should warn Harvey. No, Harvey’s too laid-back, he’ll just laugh it off.
In his study, Rowan finally allowed himself to relax slightly, leaning back in his chair. He knew he couldn’t force Amara to accept his presence, but he couldn’t just stay away either. He needed to find a way to be there for his brother without causing more tension with Amara.
In the early morning light, Rowan sat in his private jet, the hum of the engines a familiar background noise. He was engrossed in his laptop, his fingers flying over the keys as he reviewed documents and sent emails. His expression was one of intense focus, the weight of his responsibilities evident in the lines etched into his face.
Kyle and Harvey, seated across from him, exchanged glances. Harvey’s expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief, while Kyle’s was more of resigned acceptance. They both knew Rowan well enough to recognize that his so-called “business meeting” was more of a convenient cover story.
When Harvey had arrived at the airport earlier that morning, he had been surprised to find Rowan already seated in the plane, a cup of coffee in hand and his laptop open on the table before him. The sight had immediately raised Harvey’s suspicions.
“Good morning, big brother,” Harvey had greeted, his tone light and playful. “I didn’t expect to see you here so early.”
Rowan had barely looked up from his laptop. “Morning, Harvey.”
Harvey had taken a seat next to Kyle, who had been busy organizing some paperwork. After a few moments of silence, Harvey had finally voiced the question that had been nagging at him since he arrived. “So, where exactly is this business meeting of yours?”
Rowan had paused, his fingers hovering over the keyboard for a brief moment before he responded, “Venice.”
Harvey had raised an eyebrow, a skeptical smile playing on his lips. “Venice, huh? How convenient, considering Amara is there for the wedding preparations.”
Rowan had finally looked up, his eyes meeting Harvey’s with a calm, unyielding gaze. “It’s purely coincidental.”
Harvey had laughed, shaking his head. “Sure it is, big brother. As if anyone would believe that.”
Kyle had chuckled softly, unable to suppress his amusement. “You know, boss, it might be more believable if you didn’t look so determined.”
Rowan had merely shrugged, returning his attention to his laptop. “Believe what you want. I have work to do.”
Now, as the jet soared through the sky, Harvey couldn’t help but study his brother. Rowan was always composed, always in control. But there was something different about him today-an underlying tension that only those closest to him could detect.
“You’re really going to crash the wedding, aren’t you?” Harvey finally said, breaking the silence.
Rowan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he continued typing for a few more seconds before closing his laptop and leaning back in his seat. “I’m not crashing anything. I’m attending as a concerned brother and a business professional.”
Harvey snorted. “Right. Because that’s totally how Amara will see it.”
Rowan’s gaze hardened slightly. “Amara needs to understand that I’m looking out for her, even if she doesn’t appreciate it right now.”
Kyle, sensing the growing tension, decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. “So, what’s the plan once we land? Do we head straight to the hotel or do you have other arrangements?”
Rowan took a moment to think before responding. “We’ll go to the hotel first. I want to make sure everything is in order before we do anything else. Security needs to be tight, especially with the Moretti family and their alliances involved.”
Kyle nodded, making a note of it. “Got it. I’ll coordinate with the team once we land.”
Harvey sighed, leaning back in his seat and staring out the window. “I just hope this doesn’t turn into a disaster. Amara’s already under a lot of stress with the wedding preparations.”
Rowan’s expression softened slightly at the mention of Amara. “I’ll do my best to stay out of her way. But I need to be there, Harvey. For her and for us.”
Harvey glanced at his brother, seeing the determination in his eyes. Despite his reservations, he knew that Rowan’s intentions were genuine. He just hoped that Amara would see it that way too.
As the jet continued its journey to Venice, the three men settled into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The city was drawing closer, and with it, the inevitable confrontation that awaited them.
Upon landing in Venice, they were greeted by a flurry of activity. The city was bustling with tourists and locals alike, and the air was filled with the scent of the sea and the sounds of distant music. Their driver was waiting for them, and after loading their luggage into the car, they headed to their hotel.