026

Caterina.

I stared at the message for a few minutes longer, really unsure how I was going to pull this off.

Luca: I have a little deal for you, amorino.

I snorted.

Of course, he did. Just after the blonde... no, Rissa had stormed out of here without sparing a glance in our direction.

Luca had sent it with no context, no follow-up. But the moment I responded, his next message came though, spelling out exactly what he wanted.

Luca: If I can get you to kiss me again tonight at the ball, then you'll spend a night with me in my room.

A ball.

A formal event where he expected me to be his date for the night. He even attached a number to it... a sum so high that it could put a serious dent in the sixty million debt my father owed him.

Should I do it?

Would I even be able to resist the man for that long when he was impossible to resist?

But a way out, even if just a little closer, was really tempting.

"But the last party..." My mind whispered to me.

I remembered the way the whole thing just spiralled out of control within a few hours. How Alessandro just appeared and how it ended in chaos.

My gut twisted.

Could I really risk it again?

Before I could think too hard about it, my phone was snatched from my hands.

"Maria!" I gasped, scrambling to get it back.

I had forgotten she was even there, and I wasn't alone. But Luca's sister and my soon to be friend had already seen the message, knew who it came from, and before I could stop her, her fingers flew over the screen.

Agreed.

The message sent. The little check marks confirmed it.

My jaw dropped. "You did not..."

“You’re welcome,” Maria said smugly, tossing the phone onto the couch. “Come on, you can handle one night of playing princess.”

No, I couldn't.

"I didn't agree to that."

“Well, now you have. And look at it this way, you’ll look stunning, and Luca will lose his mind.”

All I could do was glare at her, refusing to say another word. Instead, I turned on my heel and stormed toward the room Luca had given me when I first arrived.

The entire family was insane.

And the whole freedom for two months until my dad paid his debt was a farce.

Hours later, someone knocked at my door.

"Look, Maria..."

I was expecting her to come and beg for forgiveness... or gloat when I swung the door open. I wasn't expecting some maid to be there, holding onto a garment bag.

And a note.

"This is for you, miss."

I took both, arching an eyebrow as I unfolded the note.

Definitely not from Luca.

*I didn’t mean to offend. I just think this will give my brother heartache once he sees you in it. Enjoy.*

Maria.

Could I really remain mad at her?

Letting out a little sigh, I unzipped the bag and got the surprise of my life. The gown inside was stunning.

It was deep red, flowing like silk but cut in just a way that demanded attention from anyone who saw it. The moment I wore it, I knew this gown was the one to make me win.

I had just finished adjusting the last strap when the knock came later that evening. I opened the door, and the moment I did, I saw the way Luca’s eyes froze on me.

His usual sharp confidence slipped for just a second, his eyes darkening as they raked over my form.

Satisfaction curled in my stomach.

The final touch would be ignoring him completely, even brushing against him as I walked toward the front door, my heels clicking against the marble floor.

Luca followed.

Even in the car, he seemed to be gravitating toward me, as if drawn by an invisible pull. The scent of clean leather filled the space, but all I could focus on was the weight of his stare.

Though, I refused to acknowledge it.

Since I was a free woman, the moment we stepped into the party, I took advantage of the opportunity to distance myself. I moved through the grand hall, mingling with different people, laughing at conversations, and making sure I appeared completely at ease.

Twenty million would be sitting pretty in my account soon.

"Excuse..."

He bumped into me. This blonde haired man who caught my attention with an easy grin.

"Oh, my bad. I wasn't looking."

We started chatting.

He was charming in a way that didn't feel forced. Lighthearted, and a welcome distraction.

"Maybe I shouldn't..."

The rest of the words were swallowed the moment Luca appeared, placing a firm hand on my waist, and causing my heart to stutter before I could calm it down.

His grip reeked of possessiveness, burning through the fabric of my dress.

"Amorino," Luca murmured, voice smooth but edged with something darker. He looked at the blonde man with a smirk that held no warmth. "I see you've met my plus one, Ethan."

Ethan. So that was his name.

His smile didn't waver. He glanced between us, catching something unspoken before he stepped back with a knowing grin. "I'll see you around."

Luca watched him leave, then turned to me. “You enjoy pushing my buttons, don’t you?”

“You’re a jerk.”

“And you’re too damn pretty for your own good.”

I was just about to snap back when the music shifted into a slow song.

People began to pair off.

No, no, no.

Luca didn't ask before he took my hand and pulled me closer, leading me into the dance.

The warmth of his body against mine was suffocating. His scent—masculine and rich with a hint of spice—made me dizzy. The way his hand rested on the small of my back sent heat racing up my spine.

Too close. Too much.

Then his grip slid lower, fingers grazing my ass.

That was it. I shoved him away. "You..."

But he just smirked. “What?”

To avoid loosing my mind, I spun on my feel and walked off. I needed air, and space.

The night air cooled my flushed skin, letting me release a breath, while pressing my hand to my temple.

It was overwhelming.

I heard footsteps behind me. Could Luca not read the room at any moment?

It wasn't Luca.

Ethan stood there instead, his smile still easy, but there was something different in those eyes of his now.

Something unsettling.

“Luca interrupted us too soon” he said, stepping closer. “We weren’t finished talking.”

“I think we were.”

He chuckled, reaching for me, his hands sliding around my waist. Then lower.

This was wrong.

“Let go of me” I sneered at him.

But he didn’t. He pressed against me, his grip tightening.

Panic clawed at my throat.

I pushed at him, with everything in me, but he was stronger.

"Stop it." I screamed as I struggled, but before I could fight harder, the man was suddenly yanked backward.

A fist connected with his face.

He hit the ground hard, groaning, and I barely had time to register what happened before she looked up...

Luca stood there, fury rolling off him in waves, his hands clenched into fists.

Ethan was groaning, holding onto his face while Luca circled him.

“You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”