The Dinner
1598 Words
The café finally closed at eight.
Isabella wiped down the last table slowly, dragging the cloth across the wood longer than necessary.
Her shift had ended ten minutes ago, but she wasn’t in a hurry to leave.
Because the moment she stepped outside, everything would become real again.
The deadline.
The proposal.
The choice.
Twenty-four hours.
Her coworker Maya tied her apron behind the counter and glanced over.
“You okay?” she asked.
“You’ve asked me that five times today.”
“And you still haven’t given a convincing answer.”
Isabella forced a small smile.
“I’m fine.”
Maya leaned on the counter and studied her.
“You look like you’re about to walk into something terrible.”
The accuracy of that statement made Isabella laugh nervously.
“Hopefully not terrible,” she said.
“Just… complicated.”
“Well,” Maya said, shrugging as she grabbed her bag, “try not to ruin your life tonight.”
“Great advice.”
“Anytime.”
A few minutes later Isabella stepped outside.
The evening air was cool, and the street was quieter than usual.
She didn’t even need to look across the street to know what she would see.
The black car was there.
Exactly like yesterday.
Waiting.
Marco stood beside it, calm and patient as always.
When he saw her, he opened the back door.
“Good evening, Miss Moretti.”
Isabella sighed.
“You people are very persistent.”
“Mr. Romano prefers efficiency.”
“I’ve noticed.”
She hesitated on the sidewalk for a moment.
Her heart beat faster than it should have.
Part of her wanted to walk the other direction.
Pretend none of this was happening.
But deep down she knew that wasn’t really an option anymore.
So with a quiet breath, she stepped into the car.
The door closed behind her.
And there he was.
Vincenzo Romano.
He sat on the opposite side of the seat, one arm resting casually along the leather, looking completely relaxed as if waiting for women to enter his car was a normal part of his evening routine.
“Good evening, Isabella,” he said.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
She leaned back against the seat.
“You know, normal people text before sending drivers.”
“I did call.”
“That’s not the same.”
A faint smile touched the corner of his mouth.
It disappeared almost immediately, but she noticed it.
“Have you made your decision?” he asked.
Straight to business.
Of course.
“You’re very impatient,” she said.
“I prefer clarity.”
The car began to move.
City lights slid across the windows as they pulled away from the café.
Isabella watched the passing buildings for a moment before turning back to him.
“I have questions first.”
“Ask.”
“Why me?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead he studied her face, like he was deciding how much to reveal.
“You’re loyal,” he said finally.
“To your family.”
“That’s a normal human trait.”
“You’d be surprised.”
She crossed her arms.
“And?”
“You’re brave.”
She laughed.
“You’ve known me for one conversation.”
“I’ve been observing you for six weeks.”
Her head snapped toward him.
“Six weeks?”
“Yes.”
“That’s incredibly creepy.”
“It was necessary.”
“For what?”
“To understand you.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“You were spying on me?”
“I prefer the word studying.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
He didn’t seem bothered by her reaction.
“Most people behave differently when they think someone important is watching them,” he said.
“You didn’t.”
“Because I didn’t know anyone was watching me.”
“Exactly.”
She rubbed her forehead.
“That is the least comforting explanation you could possibly give.”
The car slowed as they turned onto a quieter street lined with restaurants and glowing signs.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Dinner.”
Her eyebrows shot up.
“Dinner?”
“Yes.”
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“It is now.”
She stared at him for a moment.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And yet you got into the car.”
She opened her mouth to argue.
Then closed it.
Because unfortunately he wasn’t wrong.
The restaurant was elegant.
Soft golden lights hung from the ceiling, and quiet music drifted through the room. Conversations murmured around them while waiters moved gracefully between tables.
Isabella felt immediately underdressed.
Her simple work clothes suddenly seemed very out of place.
Vincenzo, of course, looked perfectly comfortable.
People noticed him the moment he walked in.
Not loudly.
Not obviously.
But heads turned.
Whispers followed.
Power had a strange way of announcing itself without words.
A hostess greeted them quickly.
“Mr. Romano,” she said with a polite smile.
“Your table is ready.”
Isabella noticed the way her voice changed slightly when she spoke to him.
Respect.
Maybe even fear.
They were seated near the back of the restaurant where the lighting was softer and the space more private.
Vincenzo pulled out her chair.
The gesture surprised her.
“Thank you,” she said automatically.
“You’re welcome.”
Once they sat down, a waiter appeared almost instantly.
“Your usual, sir?”
“Yes.”
The waiter turned to Isabella.
“And for you, miss?”
She blinked.
“I… um…”
She hadn’t even looked at the menu.
Vincenzo spoke calmly.
“Bring her the same.”
“Of course.”
When the waiter left, Isabella leaned forward slightly.
“You didn’t even ask what I wanted.”
“I ordered something you’ll like.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’ve seen what you eat during your lunch breaks.”
She stared at him.
“That’s unsettling.”
“It’s practical.”
“Your definition of practical is very strange.”
A small silence settled between them.
For the first time since she had met him, Vincenzo seemed slightly more relaxed.
Almost human.
“So,” he said.
“Your decision.”
Her stomach tightened.
“You really don’t waste time.”
“No.”
She looked down at her hands.
“I need to know something first.”
“Ask.”
“What kind of marriage would this actually be?”
He leaned back in his chair slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…” she hesitated.
“Are we pretending to be a normal couple?”
“No.”
“Are we just… business partners?”
“Partly.”
“Partly?”
His dark eyes held hers.
“My wife would have my protection.”
“And?”
“And my respect.”
“That’s not the same as love.”
“No,” he agreed calmly.
“It isn’t.”
His honesty caught her off guard again.
She studied him carefully.
“You really don’t believe in romance, do you?”
“I believe in loyalty.”
“That sounds lonely.”
“Perhaps.”
Before she could respond, the food arrived.
The smell alone made her realize how hungry she actually was.
For a few minutes they ate in silence.
And slowly Isabella felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.
Until she noticed something.
A woman sitting at the bar across the room.
She had dark red hair and wore a sleek black dress.
And she was watching them.
Not casually.
Intently.
Isabella leaned forward slightly.
“Do you know her?”
Vincenzo followed her gaze.
His expression changed instantly.
Not fear.
But recognition.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
“Who is she?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead he reached for his glass and took a slow sip of wine.
“Her name is Adriana Bellini.”
The woman at the bar smiled faintly when she noticed them looking.
But there was nothing friendly about it.
“She used to be…” Vincenzo paused slightly.
“An ally.”
“Used to be?”
“Yes.”
Isabella felt a strange chill.
“Why is she staring at us like that?”
Vincenzo’s voice remained calm.
“Because she doesn’t like surprises.”
“And I’m the surprise?”
“Yes.”
Across the room Adriana raised her glass slightly.
A silent greeting.
But the look in her eyes said something else entirely.
A warning.
Isabella swallowed slowly.
“Your life is very dramatic,” she murmured.
Vincenzo didn’t smile this time.
“It can be.”
Just then Adriana stood from the bar.
And started walking toward their table.
Isabella’s heart began to beat faster.
“Please tell me she’s not coming over here.”
“She is.”
“Fantastic.”
Adriana stopped beside their table, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
Up close she was even more striking.
Sharp features.
Confident posture.
And eyes that moved over Isabella like she was evaluating a problem.
“Well,” Adriana said smoothly.
“This is unexpected.”
Vincenzo’s voice was cool.
“Good evening, Adriana.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“So this is the girl.”
Isabella straightened in her chair.
“Nice to meet you too.”
Adriana smiled faintly.
But it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Oh,” she said softly.
“This will be interesting.”
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