Riyana woke up the next morning with one thought in her mind.
Bosco.
She groaned softly and buried her face in the pillow.
"Great," she muttered. "Exactly the person I didn't want to think about."
The previous night kept replaying in her head—the way he appeared on the balcony, the confidence in his voice, the ridiculous things he said about love.
And worst of all…
The way he looked at her.
Like she was something rare.
Something worth chasing.
Riyana sat up in bed and shook her head firmly.
"Nope. Not happening."
Men like Bosco were exactly the reason she avoided relationships.
Powerful men always believed they could have anything they wanted.
Money.
Power.
Women.
But she was not another trophy to add to his collection.
She quickly got dressed and grabbed her bag.
Today she planned to stay far away from mafia gatherings, powerful men, and especially one certain arrogant mafia boss.
The last thing she needed was Bosco entering her life.
Across the city, Bosco sat in his private office at the top floor of his headquarters.
A massive window overlooked Ravenza, but Bosco wasn't looking at the city.
He was staring at a glass of whiskey in his hand.
And thinking.
About her.
Riyana.
His trusted right-hand man, Marco, stood across the room reviewing documents.
But Bosco hadn't said a word in ten minutes.
Marco finally glanced up.
"Boss?"
Bosco didn't respond.
"Boss."
Bosco blinked slightly and looked at him.
"Yes?"
Marco frowned.
"That's the third time I've called you."
Bosco leaned back in his chair.
"What is it?"
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"I was about to ask you the same thing."
Bosco frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"You've been staring at that glass like it owes you money."
Bosco ignored the comment.
Marco crossed his arms.
"Something happened last night."
Bosco didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his mind drifted back to the balcony.
Riyana's cold eyes.
Her fearless attitude.
The way she didn't try to impress him.
The way she actually looked annoyed by his presence.
It was refreshing.
Every woman Bosco had ever met acted the same way.
They smiled too much.
Laughed too easily.
Complimented him constantly.
Tried to impress him.
They saw his power and wanted to be close to it.
But Riyana…
She treated him like he was just another man.
And somehow that made her impossible to forget.
Marco snapped his fingers in front of Bosco.
"Earth to boss."
Bosco sighed.
"I met Viktor Leone's daughter."
Marco froze.
"…You met Riyana?"
"Yes."
Marco's expression immediately turned serious.
"That's not good."
Bosco tilted his head slightly.
"Why?"
"Because her father would rather start a war than see you near her."
Bosco shrugged calmly.
"That sounds like Viktor's problem."
Marco rubbed his forehead.
"Boss… you're not thinking about pursuing her, are you?"
Bosco didn't answer.
That silence was answer enough.
Marco groaned.
"Of course you are."
Bosco smirked slightly.
"She's interesting."
Marco looked horrified.
"She's the daughter of your biggest enemy."
Bosco shrugged again.
"And?"
"And that's a terrible idea!"
Bosco stood up and walked toward the window.
The city stretched endlessly below him.
But his thoughts were somewhere else entirely.
A balcony.
Cold night air.
A woman with fearless eyes.
"She hates men," Bosco said quietly.
Marco blinked.
"What?"
"She doesn't believe in love."
Marco stared at him.
"…And this fascinates you?"
Bosco's lips curved slowly into a smile.
"Very much."
Marco shook his head.
"You know what your problem is?"
Bosco glanced at him.
"What?"
"You're bored."
Bosco chuckled softly.
"Maybe."
But the truth was deeper than that.
Riyana wasn't just a challenge.
She was different.
Authentic.
Unimpressed by power.
And that made her incredibly dangerous to a man like Bosco.
Marco sighed heavily.
"So what's the plan?"
Bosco took a slow sip of whiskey.
"For now?"
"Yes."
Bosco's eyes darkened slightly with interest.
"We wait."
Marco narrowed his eyes.
"Wait for what?"
Bosco's smile returned.
"For her to try avoiding me."
Marco frowned.
"That's exactly what she's going to do."
Bosco chuckled.
"I know."
He set the glass down and turned toward the door.
"Which is exactly why I'm curious to see how long she can manage it."
Because one thing Bosco knew about himself was simple.
When something fascinated him…
He never stopped until it belonged to him.
And right now, the only woman in Ravenza who didn't want his attention…
Was the only woman he couldn't stop thinking about.