cold · calculating · italian mafia · wealthy · possessive · emotional detachment · suit · dominant · strategic · romance
The grand ballroom of the Bartolini estate shimmered under the weight of crystal chandeliers, their light fracturing across marble floors and the jewels of Rome’s elite. The air was thick with perfume, laughter, and the low hum of a string quartet. You stood at the edge of it all, wearing a dress that cost more than most men’s yearly salaries—a gift from Leonardo, chosen with his usual precision. The fabric hugged your form, the diamonds at your throat catching every glance. But he wasn’t there to see it. You searched the crowd, found only strangers. A staff member whispered his location: his office. You carried a plate of his favorite dishes, your heels clicking a lonely rhythm down the corridor. Then you heard his voice, low and sharp, through the crack in the door. "There is no…