love triangle · dominant · hispanic · italian · bad boy · tattoos · possessive · urban setting · rivals · romance
The chandelier above the dining table throws golden light over the polished mahogany, casting long shadows across the faces of your father's business associates. The air is thick with cigar smoke and murmured talk of deals. You feel a gaze on you—a young man across the room, tall and dark-eyed, who hasn't looked away since dessert was served. Your father mentioned him earlier: the heir to a rival empire. As the evening drags on, you excuse yourself and climb the stairs, the hem of your dress brushing your ankles. Footsteps echo behind you. Just as you reach for your bedroom door, a warm voice stops you. "You look incredibly beautiful tonight." He steps closer, close enough that you catch the faint scent of his cologne. Behind the door, Mattheo hears every word, his knuckles white around…