Chapter 46 -Lucia
Elina’s penthouse was a fortress of luxury, where even the air felt expensive. Floor–to–ceiling windows offered a view of the city that would make real estate agents weep, while Italian marble and designer furniture created the perfect backdrop for secrets and champagne..
I sank deeper into her ridiculously plush sofa, letting tension seep from my shoulders as Elina poured us each a second–or maybe third glass of
Dom Perignon. This was our ritual
“So,” Elina drawled, curling into her favorite armchair with feline grace, “where have you been? Fall in love and forget your girlfriends again! Are we finally going to talk about in
“About what?” I tried for
or innocence. but the knowing glint in her eyes said I wasn’t fooling anyone
“About the fact that you’re actually falling for him.” She took a deliberate sip of champagne, watching me over the crystal rim. “The great Dante Romano, the man you swore was nothing but a political convenience.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I blamed the alcohol “It’s not –we’re not-
“Please.” She waved off my protests with perfectly manicured fingers. “I’ve known you since we were stealing cookies from your father’s kitchen. You can’t lie to me, Lucia Valentini–Romano.”
The hyphenated name still sent shivers down my spine, though I wasn’t sure anymore if they were from resistance or something else entirely
“It’s complicated,” I said finally, staring into my champagne like it might hold answers to questions I wasn’t ready to ask
“When isn’t it, with our families?” Elina’s laugh held understanding born from generations of similar arrangements. “But I’ve seen how you look at
him now. It’s different from before.”
“Different how?”
“Like he’s become essential.” She leaned forward, suddenly serious. “Like somewhere between all the pretense and politics, he stopped being just your carefully chosen cage and started beng… home.”
“you should have seen ham at the hospital. Elina continued, a sly smile playing at her lips. “After your father’s heart attack. The great Dante Romano, personally overseeing every detail of care, threatening specialists into making house calls, watching you like he’d burn down the city if it would case
your worry.”
“He was protecting his investment,” I protested weakly. “The allance between our families-
“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes with the kind of dramatic flair only childhood best friends could get away with. “I saw his face when you finally fell asleep in that horrible hospital chair. The way be covered you with his jacket, how his hand shook slightly when he brushed hair from your face… that wasn’t business, tesoro. That was a man terrified of losing something precious.”
My heart did that treacherous flutter had started doing whenever I thought about Dante’s unexpected moments of tenderness. “You’re sering
things that aren’t there.”
“Am 1a Her smile turned wicked “Then let’s talk about what is definitely there. Like how is he in bed now? Is he better than your first night? Still as controlled as he seems in public?”
__“Elina!” But even I heard the breathlessness in my voice.
“That good, huh?” She practically purred with satisfaction. Tknew it. All that intensity had to translate to something spectacular between the
sheets.”
“You’re impossible.” I grabbed a throw pillow and launched it at her head, but she dodged with practiced ease
“Tim right.” She resettled herself, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles from her designer dress. “And you know what else I’m right about? This election is practically handed to him on a silver platter.”
The abrupt subject change threw me for a moment before I caught up. The polls have been positive, hut-
“Positive” She actually snored, a sound that would have scandalized her society mother. “Lucia, darling, he’s transformed from the city’s most notonous playboy into the picture of devoted husband and family man. Every time you two appear in public, it’s like watching a master class in power wrapped in romance.”
“That’s the point.” I reminded her. “The perfect political inarriage, remember?”
“Except it stopped being perfect political anything the moment you actually fell for each other.” She held up a hand when I started to protest. “Don’t eventry denying it. I was at that charity gala last week I saw how you handled that situation with the Chen family.”
I stiffened slightly, remembering the confrontation. Miranda Chen had tried making insinuations about our marriage’s convenience, about perfectly timed arrangements and political theater. Before Dante could rean, I’d systematically dismantled her attempts at scandal with the kind of precision that spoke of genuine protection rather dan practiced performance.
“That was a wife defending her husband,” Elina cut in firmly. “Not some contract partiser maintaining appearances. The way you destroyed her attempts at scandal, how you made it clear that threatening him meam facing you.. that was pure Valentină protective instinct.”
was protecting our arrangement,” Lumisted, but the words felt hollow even to my ears.
“Riglu “She drew out the word with delicious sarcasm. “Just like he was ‘maintaining appearances‘ when he practically growled at Jacob Foster for
Chapter 46–Luci
staring at your too long at the museum opening”
Heat flooded my cheeks again as I remembered that night. Dante’s hand possessive on my lower back, his voice carrying that dangerous edge that meant trouble as he’d basically marked his territory in front of half the city’s elite.
“Thai news just-
“Don’t you dare say “business” again.” Elina topped off our glasses with practiced precision. Tve seen you in business mode, tesoro. This is something else entirely. Something that makes you practically glow when he walks into a room even if you’re pretending to ignore him.”
“I do not glow,” 1 matered into my champagne.
“You absolutely do. She studied me over her glass, eyes suddenly serious. “When was the last time you let yourself be happy, Lucia? Really happy. not just satisfied with power plays and perfect arrangements?”
The question hit harder than it should have, making something crack in iny carefully maintained composure. Because the truth was, I couldn’t remember. Not since Mark, maybe, Not since I learned that love wasn’t enough in our world of family obligations and careful alliances.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said finally, hating how my voice shook slightly. “This isn’t about happiness. It’s about family, about power, about-
“About finding something real in all our careful pretense?” Elina’s voice softened with genuine affection “About actually connecting with someone who understands our world, who matches your fire instead of trying to time it?”
“He doesn’t match my fire,” I protested. “He tries to control it. To control everything.”
“Does he?” She raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow, “Or does he gave you exactly the kind of structure you need?
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it as mnemones flooded back. “This is terrible.” I groaned, sinking deeper into the sof
“The best thing that’s ever happened to either of you?” She smiled softly.
“Thate you.” Imuttered, but there was no hear dirit
“You love me.” Her smile turned wicked again. “Now, about that bedroom performance details, darling. I need details”
I threw another pillow at her head, but my laugh felt lighter.
“Fine,” I said finally, giving in to her pleading expression “But I need more champagne first.”
Her delighted laugh filled the pemhouse as she reached for another bottle, and for a moment, I let myself believe in the possibility of happiness.
