The music changed.
Slow.
Elegant.
Dangerous.
Riyana stood near one of the tall pillars in the ballroom, her fingers wrapped tightly around a glass she hadn't touched in minutes. Her eyes kept drifting—against her will—toward the center of the room.
Toward him.
Bosco Leone.
He hadn't looked at her again.
Not once.
Not even by accident.
And that—more than anything—was starting to irritate her.
"Elena," Riyana said under her breath.
"Yes?"
"Let's leave."
Elena blinked.
"Already? The night just started."
"I'm bored."
"No, you're not."
Riyana gave her a sharp look.
"I am."
Elena leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"You're angry."
"I'm not angry."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Riyana exhaled sharply.
"Fine. I'm irritated."
Elena smiled knowingly.
"Because he's ignoring you."
Riyana didn't respond.
That was enough.
Before Elena could say anything else, a well-dressed man approached them with a polite smile.
"Good evening," he said.
Riyana turned to him.
"Yes?"
"The host has requested all honored guests to join the dance floor."
Riyana frowned.
"I don't dance."
"I'm afraid it's part of the evening's formal tradition."
Elena's eyes lit up.
"Oh, this will be fun."
Riyana glared at her.
"No, it won't."
The man continued politely,
"You've already been assigned a partner."
Riyana stiffened.
"I didn't agree to that."
"I understand, but—"
"Who?"
The man hesitated for just a second.
Then he said,
"Mr. Bosco Leone."
Silence.
Elena's jaw dropped.
"Oh. My. God."
Riyana stared at the man.
"You're joking."
"I assure you, I'm not."
Riyana laughed once.
A short, humorless sound.
"Tell the host to assign someone else."
"I'm afraid the pairings are final."
"Then I won't participate."
But before she could step away—
A familiar voice spoke behind her.
"That would be impolite."
Riyana turned slowly.
Bosco stood just a few feet away.
Calm.
Composed.
Unreadable.
Their eyes met.
And instantly, the tension returned.
Sharp.
Electric.
Unavoidable.
"I don't care," Riyana said coldly.
Bosco studied her for a moment.
Then he extended his hand.
"Dance."
It wasn't a request.
It wasn't a command either.
It was something in between.
Riyana looked at his hand.
Then back at his face.
"I said no."
Bosco's expression didn't change.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"You did."
"Then why are you still standing here?"
"Because you're still here."
Riyana's jaw tightened.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The music continued.
Couples began gathering on the dance floor.
Eyes started to turn toward them.
Elena whispered urgently,
"Riyana… people are watching."
"I don't care."
Bosco leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropped, low enough that only she could hear.
"You're making a scene."
Riyana's eyes flashed.
"You started it."
Bosco's lips curved faintly.
"No."
"You did."
"You're the one refusing to dance at a formal event."
Riyana crossed her arms.
"Find another partner."
Bosco straightened.
"I don't repeat myself."
Riyana stepped closer instead.
Her voice was just as low.
"Neither do I."
For a second, it felt like the entire room disappeared.
Just the two of them.
Standing too close.
Arguing without raising their voices.
Burning without touching.
Then—
Bosco's hand moved.
Before she could react, he gently but firmly took her hand.
Riyana's breath caught.
"Let go."
"No."
"You don't get to—"
"Stop overthinking."
And before she could argue again—
He pulled her toward the dance floor.
Gasps echoed softly around them.
Elena covered her mouth.
"Oh, this is bad…"
Riyana tried to pull her hand back.
"Bosco—"
"Relax."
"I am not—"
"You're attracting attention."
"I don't care."
"I do."
That stopped her.
Riyana glared at him.
"Of course you do."
Bosco didn't respond.
Instead, he placed one hand lightly at her waist.
The contact was brief.
Controlled.
But it sent a sharp, unexpected tension through her body.
Riyana froze.
"Don't."
Bosco's voice was calm.
"Then stop resisting."
The music guided them.
Slow steps.
Precise movements.
Riyana had no choice but to follow—at least enough to avoid making a bigger scene.
But her eyes never left his.
"You're forcing this," she said quietly.
Bosco met her gaze.
"You're overreacting."
"I said no."
"And yet you're here."
"Because you dragged me."
Bosco's expression remained calm.
"If I hadn't, you would have walked away."
"Yes."
"That would have been rude."
Riyana scoffed.
"I don't care about your reputation."
Bosco's eyes darkened slightly.
"This isn't about reputation."
"Then what is it about?"
For a moment, he didn't answer.
Then he said quietly,
"Control."
Riyana's lips parted slightly.
"What?"
Bosco's gaze didn't waver.
"You like having it."
"And you don't?"
"No."
Riyana almost laughed.
"That's a lie."
Bosco leaned slightly closer.
"Is it?"
The distance between them shrank.
Too close.
Too intense.
Riyana forced herself not to step back.
"You think you understand me," she said.
"I don't need to think."
"That's your problem."
Bosco's grip at her waist tightened just slightly.
"You assume too much."
"And you expect too much."
They moved in silence for a few seconds.
The music slowed even further.
Around them, other couples danced gracefully.
But none of them carried the tension that existed between these two.
"You're still offended," Riyana said suddenly.
Bosco raised an eyebrow.
"About what?"
"The painting."
Bosco's expression cooled instantly.
"I forgot about it."
"Liar."
His eyes met hers again.
Sharp.
"You think everything revolves around you."
Riyana's jaw tightened.
"You came to my gallery."
"You insulted me."
"You tried to buy me."
"I showed respect."
"You showed arrogance."
Bosco stopped moving for half a second.
Then continued the dance.
"You don't know the difference."
"I know exactly what I saw."
"And what did you see?"
"A man who thinks money equals power."
Bosco's voice dropped lower.
"It does."
"Not with me."
Silence.
Heavy.
Charged.
Then Bosco spoke again.
"Good."
Riyana blinked.
"What?"
His expression didn't change.
"At least you're consistent."
"That's not a compliment."
"It wasn't meant to be."
Riyana exhaled sharply.
"I don't like you."
Bosco didn't react.
"I know."
"Then stop interfering in my life."
"I already did."
Riyana frowned.
"Then why am I dancing with you?"
Bosco's lips curved slightly.
"Because you didn't walk away."
Riyana opened her mouth—
Then stopped.
Because for a brief moment…
She didn't have an answer.
And that irritated her even more.
The music slowly came to an end.
The dance floor began to clear.
Bosco released her hand.
Stepped back.
The distance returned.
Cold.
Controlled.
Like nothing had happened.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening," he said calmly.
Riyana stared at him.
"That's it?"
"What else do you want?"
Her expression hardened.
"Nothing."
"Good."
Bosco turned.
And walked away.
Just like that.
No lingering glance.
No final comment.
Nothing.
Riyana stood still.
Her chest rose and fell slightly faster than before.
Elena rushed toward her immediately.
"Oh my God. What just happened?"
Riyana didn't answer.
Her eyes were still on Bosco's retreating figure.
"He just—he just walked away," Elena said.
Riyana clenched her jaw.
"I noticed."
Elena tilted her head.
"You look angry again."
"I am."
"Why?"
Riyana finally looked away.
"Because he thinks he won."
Elena blinked.
"Won what?"
Riyana didn't answer.
Because she wasn't even sure.
All she knew was—
Bosco Leone had walked into her space…
Forced her into his world…
And then left like it meant nothing.
And for some reason…
That bothered her more than anything else he had done.