Crimson Vow’s

Whispers

A week had passed since the gala. Work was going well and these has been a productive week.

Earlier in the day when she was on the phone with Maya and Chloe, they had spoken.

“I’m thinking of expanding the gallery,”she had told them.

“Work is becoming more productive and I need the space.”They promised to check by later in the day so they could talk about it and maybe have a girls night .Yet, beneath the surface of her productive days and plans , a persistent echo she has been trying to push away lingered : the memory of a dance.

Isabella found herself replaying it in her mind; the brush of Alessandro’s hand, the low timbre of his voice, the unsettling intensity of his gaze, His smirks .She couldn't seem to shake it off.

“It’s because I haven’t had enough work at hand to do, she said to herself. By the way I don’t do nonchalant men.”

Anyway it’s Saturday and evening has arrived ;a break from the week's demands. Chloe and Maya, her two closest friends over for a much-needed girls' night. The scent of homemade lasagna filled her spacious apartment, mingling with the fragrance of lilies from a vase on her coffee table.

"So, spill,”Chloe declared, reaching for another piece of garlic bread. "Anything new and exciting on the horizon for Isabella, our resident art whisperer?"

Maya giggled. "Or, more importantly, anything male on the horizon? Because, darling, your social life seems to begin and end with paintings .”They let out a loud laugh.

Isabella rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "My paintings offer far more stimulating conversation, thank you very much”.They laughed again.

“But seriously, Isabella said suddenly looking serious .I really want to expand the gallery, my drawing room specifically and then add some little touches of modern vibe.”

“That won’t be a problem, just call us whenever you need assistance.It must be a weekend though Maya added.My boss at work behave like an evil doll these days ,just few minutes late and he’s acting possessed” .she shrugged her shoulders.

“I’m sorry about that May, don’t worry it’ll be a weekend and I’d give us a treat when we’re done.”

"So come on,”Maya teased, nudging her with a foot. "You're gorgeous, successful, and you're not getting any younger, girl! We're talking cobwebs in the coochie if you don't get out there and feel something."

"Maya!”Isabella laughed, throwing a cushion at her.

"She's right, though," Chloe added, a little more gently. "We just want you to be happy. You're so invested in your work, which is great, but don't you ever just want to... fall?"

The question hung in the air, and for the first time that evening, Isabella’s playful resistance faltered. The image of Alessandro , flashed in her mind. Her earlier dismissal felt hollow. She took a slow sip of her wine.

"There... there was someone," she began, her voice softer than usual. Chloe and Maya exchanged excited glances, instantly attentive. "At gala I attended last week”.

“The event you posted on your story last week?”Khloe asked .

“Yes”.

“Oh my God, Maya chirped in.All of those, is it for a person or group of people ?”

“Did you see the decorations and hall arrangements ?”She was now directing the question to Chloe.

“I did saw it indeed.”Chloe attested.”Is he rich?”

He's... powerful. Magnetic. He asked me to dance too but I don’t know he seem nonchalant and harsh.”She told them all about what transpired the week before.

As she spoke, a strange mix of unease swirled within her.

"And who is this mysterious man?”Chloe pressed, leaning forward.

Isabella hesitated, then exhaled slowly. " Alessandro . As in, Alessandro Moretti.”

A sudden, jarring silence fell over the room. Chloe's fork clattered against her plate. Maya's eyes widened, her earlier joviality replaced by a look of genuine alarm.

"Isabella," Maya said slowly, her voice dropping to a serious tone. "You don't mean the Moretti, do you? The one they whisper about? The... Rich Moretti ?"

Isabella swallowed, a knot forming in her stomach. "I... I think so. Yes."

Chloe finally found her voice. "Are you out of your mind? Isabella, he's not just powerful .We’ve heard he is dangerous. These people, they're known for... for very different things. Even if they do all the good things in society, you know I’ve heard from a reliable source, she lowered her voice , that they belong to an occult community, why do you think he’s not still married ?Or have you seen any woman with anyone from that family? This is not a good idea. At all."

"But the last time we met he was so..." Isabella started, trying to articulate the complex allure.

"Charming? Alligators are charming when they're luring their prey," Maya interjected, a sharp edge to her voice. "He's not just some rich, attractive man, Izzy. His world is completely separate from yours. And trust me, you don't want to step into it. Not with him."

Their warnings, blunt and urgent, pierced through the haze that had clouded her thoughts. Moretti was a very dangerous force, and her friends had just brutally reminded her of it.

The weight of her friends' words settled heavy in the comfortable silence that followed. Chloe and Maya, usually so carefree, sat with expressions of genuine concern, their eyes fixed on her.

"Seriously, Izzy," Chloe said, her voice softer now but no less firm. "We're not trying to be killjoys. We just... we hear things. Stories. About what happens when people get involved with men like him. It's not a movie, it's real life. And you're too good, too brilliant, to get tangled up in something that could destroy everything you've built."

Maya nodded, leaning forward. "He might seem charming now, but that's how they operate. They draw you in. What does an art curator, a respected professional, have in common with a such a person ? Think about it. He wouldn't be interested in your insights on brushstrokes, not really. There's always an agenda with men like that."

“But I’m not saying I want to date him or he asked me out,you guys asked if I’ve met anyone and i was just telling you”. Isabella defended herself

“The eyes Chico, they don’t lie.”Chloe replied.

Isabella traced the rim of her glass, her mind racing. They were right, of course. Everything they said resonated with the subtle Differences unease she'd felt even during the dance even The cold assessing looks from his associates.

"So, what do I do?" Isabella finally whispered, the question hanging in the air. "I don’t want to relate with him anymore to avoid anything from happening but he owns that piece now. I might have to see him again for the official transfer or something."

Chloe and Maya exchanged a look, a silent agreement passing between them.

"You keep it professional, strictly business," Maya advised. "No dinners, no dance , no further insights.' You make it clear that your relationship is purely transactional, related only to the art. You smile, you're polite, but you keep your distance. And if he pushes, you push back."

"And you let us know everything," Chloe added, her eyes serious. "Every call, every message. We're your support system, Izzy. Don't go through this alone."

As the evening wound down and her friends eventually left, the apartment felt quieter, emptier. The question was, she knew she has been lying to herself from the very first time she saw him.Her faked hate for him was her shying away from her emotions.She was scared at first but she liked him and she really wanted to keep her distance.