Ginevra “What does that even mean?” “It means that you are playing with me.” My eyes widen and I push myself out of his hold. Very sublime and not suspicious at all. I am prepared to grab Nina and run off the dance floor but stop as I see her discussing with Mr. Happy-Smile. Just what the fuck is going on? “Nina?!” She holds up her hand to my face, growling. “Not now, Gin. And what makes that a me-problem?” Oops. I turn around as she shouts at him, and he answers her something in a similar manner. Pushing through the crowd panicky, I turn to walk into the small hall where the restrooms are, but just as I’m about to slow down, Ruggerio bumps into me, having me turn around. “What the hell, Ginevra? You know exactly which party I was talking about, don’t you?” With the music fading out due to a thin glass door, his deep voice re-sounds in the confined space, giving me goosebumps. Him using my first name has a devastating effect on me. “Didn’t you say you were waiting for s

Ruggerio “Mr. Capoletti, Mr. Montecco and his partners are here to see you.” I thank Arabella who announced my long-awaited meeting and stand up, closing the upper button of my jacket. “Let’s keep it clean and simple, son.” I grunt in response to my father, who gets out of the elevator with me, followed by my grandfather and two of our lawyers. Funny for him to say that after all the speeches he gave me about this meeting. Entering the largest meeting room we have a few floors beneath my office, I’m faced with a stunning view. And by that I don’t mean the four tall men, all dressed in tailored suits, but the woman standing in their middle. She is wearing a black etui dress that hugs her curves to perfection and her curled black hair is neatly tightened to the side into a low ponytail. At least I will have something to ogle while my kin fights with hers. I get torn out of my thoughts as my father spits his first snarky remark. My family takes their seats without doing a round of

Ginevra I barely register the voices discussing in a shouting tone around me. This so-called debriefing is ridiculous and completely unnecessary. As Federico has concluded the negotiation competently, they should focus on that, rather than rage about our contract partner. Sighing tiredly, I wait for the men to calm down, but eventually excuse myself to retreat to my room. They would not care to hear my opinion anyway. After falling onto my bed, I roll on my back and take out my phone. In the meantime, Ruggerio has provided me with a location, signaling me that he is already there, waiting for me. My heart beats faster at seeing that it is a house on the beach in the Hamptons. At least I will die in some pretty place. *** Time has never crept slower. I nearly have a fit of rage as I even have to sit with my family for dinner. The conversations are so slow and just pointless. As I seem to be barely functioning, my thoughts are running a marathon. Lucky for me, my mother thinks I am

Ginevra   My phone vibrating relentlessly in my purse has me opening my eyes groggily. The sun streams into the open space and for a moment I’m lost trying to remember what kind of paradise I am in. “Just throw it into the ocean.” Ruggerio’s deep baritone voice has me jerking up. I blink repeatedly, assessing my surroundings, still convinced that this is just a dream. Apparently, we didn’t even make it to the bed and are lying on a fluffy carpet in front of the couches. Touching the soft material of the blanket covering me, I realize that he has gotten us blankets and cushions. Maybe to not wake me from my deep and satisfied slumber. So cute. I snatch my purse and take my phone out of it hastily. As I see Nina’s name flashing on the screen, I get up, taking the blanket with me. Ruggerio groans and tries to grab me, but I escape him with a giggle. Stepping out on the terrace through the s

Ginevra It doesn’t take long for him to answer, but before I can check the message, Nina returns with our chilled drinks, and I take mine from her with a wide smile. We spend a few hours chatting lightly, eating and drinking. As the bar fills up more and more, the music gets louder, and Nina changes her seat to sit next to me. I finally get the right timing to ask her what her fight with Mr. Happy-Smile was about at the club. Until now, she had always been evasive when I had tried to talk to her about him. That’s not like her at all, as her men-eater-demeanor usually has her speak freely about her lovers. She even remains unimpressed when one of them stops contacting her as she normally doesn’t give a flipping rat’s behind. “So, what were you two fighting about at the club?” “What? Who?” She looks at me like she doesn’t understand, while I know exactly that she is hiding something. We practically already talked to each other while being carried around in buggies. I read her poker f