For a long moment, neither of them moved, their bodies tangled, their breaths heavy. Then he leaned in, brushing his lips over hers, softer this time. “I guess this changes nothing,” he murmured. Eloise swallowed, still breathless. “Right.” But they both knew that was a lie. A sudden flash of headlights through the window made Eloise freeze. “Oh shit,” she breathed, her heart slamming against her ribs. Dino pulled back slightly, brows furrowing as another set of lights illuminated the kitchen. Someone was pulling into the driveway. Eloise scrambled, slipping off the counter with shaky legs, grabbing for her discarded clothes. “Where the hell are my shorts?” she hissed, searching the floor.
"Everyone will eventually know you're my stepbrother," Eloise said, arms crossed. "I think it's best we keep things down." Dino tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Of course," he said smoothly. "Plus, Jess already knows." Eloise exhaled, about to respond, when the door suddenly burst open. Sandra. Eloise’s stomach twisted at the sight of her. Sandra, who had made her life miserable in high school. The same Sandra who used to sneer at her, belittle her every chance she got. And worse Dino’s ex. Before Eloise could react, Sandra let out an excited squeal and practically threw herself into Dino’s arms. "I’ve missed you so much, Dino!" Dino tensed slightly but let her cling to him, his reaction controlled. "Hey, Sandra." Sandra finally turned her attention to Eloise, her gaze flicking over her like she was assessing her worth just like old times. Then, with a forced smile, she said, "Oh. Eloise, you're here too!" Eloise kept her expression blank. "Yeah,
Dino and Sandra walked by, their conversation light and easy, the kind that came from years of familiarity. Eloise kept her eyes on her screen, pretending not to notice the way Sandra’s laughter rang a little too loud, the way she clung to Dino’s arm like she had every right to be there. She should be used to it. Sandra had always been that way... possessive, smug, the kind of girl who made sure everyone knew what was hers. Back in high school, Eloise had been on the receiving end of that cruelty more times than she could count. The casual insults hidden behind bright smiles, the sharp words disguised as jokes, the way Sandra had made sure Eloise never forgot her place. And now, here she was again, standing in front of her desk like she owned the space, like nothing had changed. "Eloise," Sandra drawled, her voice dripping with that familiar condescension. A slow smirk curled at her lips as her gaze flickered over Eloise
As Dino and Sandra disappeared down the hall, Eloise let out a slow breath, pressing her fingers to her forehead. The tension that had settled in her shoulders refused to ease, the lingering presence of Sandra clawing at her nerves. She should be used to it by now Sandra’s games, her smug little jabs. But it still got under her skin, no matter how much she told herself she didn’t care. "Hey, sis." She didn’t need to think twice to know that voice. Luca. Eloise dropped her hand and turned, finding him leaning against the doorway with that lazy grin of his, arms crossed like he had been standing there for a while, watching. "Why, Luca?" she asked, exasperation creeping into her voice. "Why what?" He tilted his head, the grin never wavering. "Why am I here? Or why am I cal
Luca let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Damn, bro. No need to get defensive. Just calling it like I see it.” Dino smirked, but his eyes flickered toward Eloise, gauging her reaction. She didn’t flinch, didn’t look up from her lunch, but the way her grip tightened on her fork told him she wasn’t as unaffected as she wanted to seem. Good. He leaned against the table, arms crossed casually. “Besides, even if Sandra and I were a thing, that’s not your business, is it?” His words were directed at Luca, but his gaze lingered on Eloise. Luca caught on immediately, his grin widening. “Oh-ho. So that’s what we’re doing?” He turned to Eloise, watching for a reaction. “What do you think, sis?” Eloise finally looked up, her expression blank. “I think Dino can do whatever he wants. It’s not like it affects us.” Dino felt something in his chest tighten at her indifference. He didn’t know why he expected a different reaction maybe a glare, maybe a biting remark... but this? This c
Dino smirked. “She’ll be here soon.” Sandra's lips curled. “Wow. She actually showed up?” Before he could answer, a shift in the room’s atmosphere made heads turn toward the entrance. Eloise had arrived. She stepped in like she owned the place, wearing a sexy short gown that hugged her curves in all the right places. The fabric shimmered under the ballroom lights, and the daring neckline left just enough to the imagination. Her confidence was effortless, her walk graceful, and for the first time, people weren’t looking at her in mockery, they were staring in awe. Sandra’s smirk faltered for a split second before she forced it back into place. She clapped her hands dramatically, drawing attention. “Eloise, I see you’re here.” Then she turned to the crowd. “Hey, everyone, look! It’s Eloise, the Locker Girl! Remember?” Laughter rippled through the group, just as Sandra intended. Eloise remained composed. She didn’t flinch. She didn’t shrink back. Instead, she met Sandra
The reunion continued in full swing, with the ballroom brimming with chatter, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. Waiters in crisp uniforms weaved through the crowd, offering trays of drinks, while the live band played soft jazz in the background. It was the kind of upscale event that their high school classmates would have dreamed of back then flashy, extravagant, and meant to show off success. Eloise moved through the room with ease, engaging in polite conversations, exchanging pleasantries, and effortlessly shutting down any lingering whispers about the past. The old Eloise might have shrunk under the weight of past ridicule, but she wasn’t that girl anymore. She carried herself with grace, her confidence evident in every step she took in her fitted, short dress that accentuated her curves. Yet, no matter how composed she remained on the outside, she couldn’t completely shake off the occasional glances she stole in Dino’s direction. Sandra hadn’t left his side all evening.
She didn’t wait for a response. As Eloise stepped out of the restroom and into the buzzing energy of the reunion, she took a deep breath. She needed to get through this night without letting Sandra or Dino see the battle raging inside her. Eloise had had enough. The reunion had been a mistake. She should never have come. Every moment in that ballroom had been a reminder of the past... the taunts, the humiliation, the way Sandra still had her claws in Dino. But what hurt the most was seeing Sandra’s hands on him and how he had done nothing to stop her. She could still see it so clearly in her mind. The way Sandra had “accidentally” spilled wine on his trousers, the way she had immediately knelt down, dabbing at the fabric near his thigh with slow, deliberate strokes. Dino had looked uncomfortable, sure, but he hadn’t pulled away fast enough. And then she had walked in on them like that Sandra touching him so intimately, and him just standing there. Eloise had kept her compo
They met in a tight embrace, the kind of hug that made the world quiet again for a few seconds. “You didn’t tell me you were coming today,” Eloise said, her voice soft against her mother’s shoulder. “I wanted it to be a surprise,” Anne chuckled as she pulled back, cupping her daughter’s face briefly before brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Well, your mother insisted,” came another voice from the corner, smoother, deeper. Eloise turned to see Alessandro, standing just a few steps inside, a glass in his hand and a small smile playing on his face. Before Eloise could say anything, Dino stepped into the house, his pace slower now, his features carefully arranged in something close to neutral. “Dad?” Dino greeted, eyes briefly meeting Alessandro’s. Then, “Anne.” “Dino,” Anne said warmly, pulling him into a hug just as she had Eloise, as if all the tension between them didn’t exist or perhaps, she chose to ignore it tonight. Dino hugged her back, but his eyes f
After he left, Eloise exhaled slowly and looked out the window. She had survived the first awkward encounter. She hadn’t flinched. She hadn’t cracked. And she wouldn’t. Even if Dino hadn’t come home last night. Even if he hadn’t called. Even if the silence between them was louder than ever. She would play it cool. Be professional. Focus on her goals. She had too much going for her to let emotions complicate things. But as the day stretched on, and she scrolled past another post dissecting the Alessandro family dynamic, her jaw clenched. She wasn’t just playing it cool. She had to be cool. Because the minute she let her guard down, she wasn’t sure what she’d do the next time she saw Dino. Or worse, what she’d let herself feel. Just before Eloise could slip into the rhythm of her work, the sharp sound of heels clicking against the polished floor interrupted the quiet hum of the office. Each step was too deliberate, too loud, and it was already clear who it was..
She closed the door gently behind her and leaned against it, letting out a slow, tired breath. Her phone buzzed softly from where she’d left it on the bed. She moved toward it without thinking, the screen lighting up with a new message. Her heart knew before her eyes confirmed it. Dino: "I won’t be coming home today." That was it. No explanation. No follow up. Just a quiet, distant line that made her stomach twist. She sat on the edge of the bed, phone still in her hand. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure whether to type something sarcastic, neutral, or just nothing at all. A million thoughts raced through her head, most of them useless. What was she expecting him to say? That he missed her? That he’d come back tonight and act like nothing was changing? She dropped the phone beside her and rubbed her forehead, closing her eyes. This, whatever this was... was starting to blur. The line between what was real and what was just late night glances and lingering to
Her chest tightened a little at his words. “I’m okay,” she said, even though that wasn’t the full truth. “I’ve had worse.” “I know,” he replied quietly. “But I still wanted to hear it from you.” For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn’t awkward, it was thick with unspoken things. “Where are you right now?” she asked, needing something to ground the moment. “My father’s company,” he answered. “Going over some logistics for the expansion in Paris. It’s a mess here.” “Sounds fun.” “You’d hate it,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Noisy, chaotic, and too many people trying to suck up to my father.” Eloise smirked. “Yeah, definitely not my scene.” Another pause. “Eloise,” he said, his voice a little more serious now. “Yeah?” “We’ll I can deal with all that. Let them say whatever they want, gossip fades after all. But what’s between us...” He trailed off. Her heart skipped. “What’s between us?” He didn’t answer right away. Then, quietly, he
The next morning at the office felt unusually quiet. Eloise stepped into the building with a calm demeanor, but inside, her thoughts were a swirl of noise. She hadn’t had much sleep after last night’s conversation with Dino. It had stayed with her long after he left. The way he opened up, the weight behind his words... it all echoed in her mind, making her heart ache a little. She had always known Dino carried a lot, but hearing it from him directly changed everything. She walked through the familiar halls of the office with practiced ease, offering small smiles to a few colleagues on the way, but her mind was clearly elsewhere. Her desk was just as she left it organized, clean, and oddly comforting. She placed her bag down, booted up her computer, and took a deep sip from her warm coffee. Dino was away today, handling business matters at his father’s company, so the atmosphere was notably different without him around. A part of her missed him already, and it was ridiculous, cons
The silence stretched between them like an invisible thread, tying them together in a strange, heavy comfort. Dino could feel the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air, his mind running over everything that had been said—and everything that hadn’t been said. His father’s voice still echoed in his ears, the words sharp and demanding. And yet, here he was, sitting next to Eloise, as if everything was fine.As if he could just forget about the suffocating pressure from his father and the constant expectations that seemed to define his every move.Dino glanced at Eloise again. Her eyes were focused on the TV screen, but there was something in her posture—a subtle tension in the way her body was angled, her lips pressed together—that told him she wasn’t as absorbed in the show as she appeared to be.He couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. Was she still bothered by the way he had been distant lately? Or was she starting to understand why he had been pulling away?He did
Dino’s phone rang again, and he groaned, already knowing who it was. He glanced at the screen Father and sighed. With a heavy pause, he answered, his voice taking on that familiar cool, distant tone.“Yeah?”His father’s voice came through the line, clear and commanding. “Dino, I need you at the office tomorrow.”Dino rubbed the back of his neck, already feeling the tension in his shoulders rise. “What for? I thought Luca was handling things.”“He is, but I need your input on something specific. These contracts with the foreign investors... this is big. I can’t leave this to anyone else.” His father’s tone was terse, and it didn’t leave much room for argument.Dino’s eyes briefly flickered to Eloise, who had turned her attention to the television, though her posture was rigid, as though she was trying to seem casual but clearly wasn’t. He rubbed his face, fighting the wave of frustration bubbling up inside. “I’m still dealing with things here. I’ve got enough on my plate.”“Enough? It
But as much as she enjoyed this distraction, she knew she couldn’t avoid Dino forever. And she had a feeling that when she got back home, he’d be waiting. Eloise stood at the entrance of the estate, gripping the strap of her bag as she stared at the sight before her. Sandra was draped over Dino like she belonged there, her manicured fingers tracing slow, lazy circles on his chest as she laughed at something he said. Eloise swallowed hard, forcing herself to take a deep breath. You knew this would happen, she told herself. You knew she’d be here. But knowing didn’t make it any easier. Dino hadn’t noticed her yet, too caught up in whatever Sandra was saying. Or maybe... maybe he had noticed and just didn’t care. That thought stung more than she wanted to admit. She stepped further inside, her heels clicking against the floor, finally drawing their attention. Dino’s gaze snapped to her instantly, his body tensing for just a fraction of a second before his expression smoothed into
Eloise groaned, sinking deeper into the couch. “You’re impossible.”Jess grinned, completely unfazed. “And yet, you love me.” She tossed a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “So, tell me how did this even happen? One minute you and Dino are bickering like enemies, and the next, you’re tangled in the sheets?”Eloise exhaled, staring at the ceiling as the memories flooded back. The way he had looked at her. Touched her. Claimed her. She felt the heat creeping up her neck and covered her face with her hands.“Eloise,” Jess nudged her. “Details. I need details.”Eloise peeked at her through her fingers. “Jess, I’m not going to sit here and narrate my sex life to you.”Jess pouted. “But I live for this kind of gossip.” She crossed her arms. “Fine. I’ll respect your privacy—”Eloise sighed in relief.“—but at least tell me who made the first move?”Eloise hesitated before muttering, “Him.”Jess gasped dramatically. “No way! Dino is all broody and possessive, but I never took him for the act f