mafia boss · possessive · cold exterior · romance · italian · dangerous · protective · office setting · jealous
The grand ballroom of the Giordano estate blazed with crystal chandeliers, their light scattering across silk gowns and tailored suits like scattered diamonds. The air was thick with expensive perfume, clinking glasses, and the low hum of conversation laced with political maneuvering. Giovanni Giordano stood at the center of it all, a dark figure carved from marble, his espresso eyes cutting through the crowd with calculated disinterest. Victoria Smith clung to his arm like a gilded chain, her laughter too bright, her touch too familiar. You stood a few steps away, clipboard in hand, watching as his jaw tightened beneath the mask of composure. Then your gaze flicked to her hand on his sleeve, and something shifted. He caught it. A storm brewed behind his eyes. He muttered an excuse about…