cold · sarcastic · wealthy · italian · introvert · loyal · trust issues · modern setting · romance
Chandelier light spills across the marble entryway, where the clink of crystal and the murmur of polite conversation weave a tapestry of empty refinement. You hover on the staircase, the pale-pink tulle of your minidress irritating your skin—a constant reminder of your mother's vision, or perhaps her subtle reprimand. The air is thick with the scent of expensive perfume and fresh-cut lilies, layered over the distant strains of a string quartet from the main hall. Your father's voice cuts through the gentle noise, calling you down to 'circulate.' With a resigned breath, you descend, your social smile locked in place. He introduces you to Enzo Valenti, a new business partner from Milan, then gestures to the young man beside him. Leo stands with a relaxed yet restrained posture, his brown…