Chapter 20: The Gilded Captive
The breakfast spread laid out on the marble island was a masterpiece of Italian hospitality—fresh pastries, figs drizzled with honey, and artisanal cheeses—but to Élise, it looked like a last meal. She sat on the high stool, her posture rigid, watching Adriano as he stood by the window, already back on his phone, commanding his empire with a series of clipped, ruthless sentences.
He looked devastatingly composed. The morning light caught the sharp line of his jaw and the expensive sheen of his watch, making him seem more like a monument than a man.
"I need my phone," Élise said, her voice cutting through his phone call.
Adriano didn't look at her immediately. He finished his sentence, tapped the screen to end the call, and finally turned. He reached into his pocket and pulled out her device, but he didn't hand it over. He walked toward her, the space between them shrinking until he was standing between her knees as she sat on the stool.
