The office was quiet.
Too quiet.
Marco stood near the large desk in Bosco's office, watching his boss carefully. He had known Bosco for years, long enough to understand when something was wrong.
And right now, something was definitely wrong.
Bosco sat in his chair, leaning back slightly, one hand resting on the armrest while the other slowly turned a small white card between his fingers.
The card Riyana had sent back with the painting.
Money doesn't impress me.
Marco cleared his throat carefully.
"You've been staring at that card for ten minutes."
Bosco didn't look up.
"I'm thinking."
"That's what worries me."
Bosco finally placed the card on the desk.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Marco crossed his arms.
"Most people would be grateful for a gift like that."
Bosco said nothing.
"That painting cost more than some people's houses," Marco continued.
Still no reaction.
Marco sighed.
"You're not used to rejection, are you?"
Bosco slowly looked up.
His eyes were darker than usual.
"No."
Marco nodded.
"I thought so."
Bosco leaned forward slightly.
"It's not the rejection."
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
Bosco tapped the card with his finger.
"It's the disrespect."
Marco frowned.
"Disrespect?"
"Yes."
Marco thought about it.
"She returned the gift."
"Yes."
"That's not disrespect. That's just stubbornness."
Bosco shook his head slowly.
"She didn't just return it."
He picked up the card again and read the message out loud.
"Money doesn't impress me."
Marco shrugged.
"She's making a point."
Bosco's voice hardened slightly.
"She's mocking me."
Marco leaned against the desk.
"Maybe she just doesn't want expensive gifts."
Bosco stood up slowly.
"That painting was not just an expensive gift."
"What was it then?"
Bosco walked toward the large window overlooking Ravenza.
"It was a gesture."
Marco watched him carefully.
"And she rejected it."
Bosco didn't answer.
The silence stretched for a moment.
Marco finally said quietly,
"You like her."
Bosco's jaw tightened slightly.
Marco continued,
"But you're also used to people respecting your position."
Bosco turned toward him.
"And she clearly doesn't."
Marco nodded.
"That bothers you."
Bosco's voice was calm again.
"It should bother anyone."
Marco smirked.
"You sound offended."
Bosco didn't deny it.
Because he was.
For the first time in years, someone had openly dismissed something he offered.
Not ignored.
Not hesitated.
Dismissed.
Like it meant nothing.
Marco walked closer.
"So what now?"
Bosco leaned against the window frame.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you going to keep chasing her?"
Bosco was silent for a moment.
Then he said quietly,
"No."
Marco blinked.
"That was fast."
Bosco's expression had changed.
The amusement from earlier days was gone.
In its place was something colder.
"If she wants to treat me like a joke," Bosco said calmly, "I'll return the favor."
Marco frowned slightly.
"That sounds dangerous."
Bosco picked up his coat from the chair.
"Not dangerous."
"Then what?"
Bosco's voice was calm.
"Educational."
Marco sighed.
"This is not going to end well."
Bosco smiled faintly.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On how much she enjoys insulting people."
At the gallery, Riyana was having a peaceful afternoon.
Finally.
After sending Bosco's ridiculous painting back, she felt relieved.
The situation was over.
Finished.
She had made her point.
Bosco would understand that she was not interested in his games.
Elena, however, did not share her confidence.
"You know," Elena said while organizing brochures, "most men would be furious if their gift was returned like that."
"Good."
"That's not a good thing."
Riyana shrugged.
"He'll get over it."
Elena looked skeptical.
"You're talking about Bosco Leone."
"So?"
"So he's not exactly known for accepting humiliation quietly."
Riyana laughed softly.
"He'll survive."
Elena shook her head slowly.
"You really don't understand powerful men."
"I understand them perfectly."
"And?"
"They hate being told no."
Elena leaned closer.
"Exactly."
Riyana smiled slightly.
"That's why it was necessary."
But just then, the gallery door opened.
Riyana didn't bother looking up at first.
Until the room suddenly became very quiet.
Elena's expression froze.
Slowly… very slowly… Riyana turned around.
Bosco had entered the gallery again.
But this time…
Something was different.
His expression was colder.
The relaxed amusement he usually carried was gone.
His bodyguards remained near the door while Bosco walked calmly into the room.
Elena whispered nervously,
"Oh no."
Riyana crossed her arms.
"Stay calm."
Bosco walked straight toward the counter.
His eyes locked onto Riyana.
"Good afternoon," he said calmly.
Riyana met his gaze without hesitation.
"What do you want?"
Elena nearly choked.
Bosco's lips curved slightly.
"Straight to the point."
"You didn't come here to admire paintings."
"No."
"Then say what you came to say."
Bosco reached into his coat pocket.
He placed the small white card on the counter.
The one she had written on.
"Your message was received."
Riyana glanced at it briefly.
"Good."
Bosco studied her face carefully.
"You made your point."
"Glad to hear it."
"But I'm curious."
"About what?"
Bosco leaned slightly closer.
"Do you always insult people who try to be polite?"
Riyana's eyes narrowed.
"You call that polite?"
"Yes."
"You tried to buy my attention."
Bosco's expression hardened slightly.
"No."
"You sent a painting worth hundreds of thousands of dollars."
"It was a gift."
"It was a display."
Bosco's voice grew colder.
"It was respect."
Riyana scoffed.
"Respect doesn't come with a price tag."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The tension between them filled the room like electricity.
Finally Bosco straightened.
"I see."
Riyana raised an eyebrow.
"See what?"
"You're not just stubborn."
"Oh?"
"You're arrogant."
Elena's eyes widened.
Riyana laughed once.
"That's rich coming from you."
Bosco ignored the comment.
"You assume every gesture has a hidden motive."
"Because men like you always have one."
Bosco's jaw tightened slightly.
"You know nothing about me."
"I know enough."
"And what exactly do you think you know?"
Riyana looked directly into his eyes.
"You're used to people bowing to you."
Bosco said nothing.
"You're used to money solving problems."
Still silence.
"And you're used to women falling at your feet."
Bosco's voice was quiet now.
"You think very highly of yourself."
Riyana smiled coldly.
"No."
"I just know exactly who I'm dealing with."
Bosco studied her face one last time.
Then he laughed softly.
But there was no amusement in the sound.
"You're right about one thing."
"Oh?"
"I am used to respect."
Riyana shrugged.
"Find it somewhere else."
Bosco took the card from the counter again.
"Don't worry."
His voice was calm again.
"I will."
He turned toward the door.
But before leaving, he paused.
"One more thing."
Riyana crossed her arms again.
"What?"
Bosco looked back at her.
"Next time someone offers you respect…"
His eyes hardened slightly.
"Make sure you deserve it."
Then he walked out of the gallery.
The door closed behind him.
The room was silent.
Elena stared at Riyana.
"Wow."
Riyana exhaled slowly.
"He deserved that."
Elena shook her head.
"No."
"What?"
"I think you just started a war."
Riyana looked toward the door where Bosco had disappeared.
"Good," she said quietly.
Because right now…
She disliked Bosco Leone more than ever.
And somewhere across the city…
Bosco was thinking the exact same thing about her.