The gala at the Vitale estate rivaled any event Florence had ever seen. Crystal chandeliers hung like stars above the grand ballroom, soft music weaving through laughter, clinking glasses, and whispered secrets.
Alessia Romano entered, her presence immediately commanding attention. Every eye turned, every conversation paused, but she moved as if the room belonged entirely to her. Elegance and poise masked her calculating mind — she was here for more than appearances.
That's when she saw him.
A man across the room — tall, impeccably dressed, with sharp eyes that seemed to measure everything. He exuded a quiet confidence, a dangerous charm that made the air between them crackle.
Lorenzo De Luca.
He approached with the calm precision of someone used to commanding attention without needing to demand it. Their eyes met briefly, a spark of recognition — not from past acquaintance, but from the magnetism of two powerful minds sizing each other up.
"Signorina Romano," he said smoothly, offering a polite bow. "I've heard much about you."
Alessia's lips curved into a faint, guarded smile. "I hope it's all good."
Lorenzo's smile was just enough to tease, just enough to hint at curiosity. "Most of it is," he replied, voice low, measured. "Some of it… intriguing."
She noted his composure, the subtle way he observed her, and the faint tension in the set of his shoulders. Alessia's instincts screamed caution. He was charming, yes, but dangerous — and she couldn't yet afford to let anyone distract her.
"Then I'm glad some of it pleases you," she said lightly, keeping her tone casual but sharp. "Florence has a way of exaggerating stories."
He chuckled softly, a sound that seemed to linger longer than necessary. "Exaggeration is the art of perspective," he said, eyes never leaving hers.
For a heartbeat, the room disappeared. Only the two of them remained, a subtle pull that neither fully understood yet. Alessia felt it, that flicker of tension and curiosity, but she kept her guard up, reminding herself: this man was still a stranger.
The conversation ended as gracefully as it had begun, a polite bow and nod exchanging before they were pulled back into the swirl of the gala. But Alessia felt it linger — the weight of someone who could be both a threat and… something else.
As she walked away, she reminded herself firmly: Keep your focus. The empire comes first.
Yet somewhere in the back of her mind, a quiet thought refused to go away.
Who is this man — and why does he feel like he's already a part of my world?
Unseen from across the room, Lorenzo watched her go, a small, unreadable smile tugging at his lips. He'd finally met her — but the game had only just begun.