Marrying The Ruthless Luciano (Luciano Brothers #1)

CHAPTER 7: FIRST MEETING

The moment I stepped out of the car, I knew I had made a terrible decision.

The hotel entrance was brighter than anything I'd ever seen.

Crystal chandeliers hung above the grand staircase. Expensive cars lined the driveway, each one carrying people whose names I had only ever seen in newspapers or business magazines.

I adjusted the mask covering half of my face.

For tonight, I am not Jade Summer. I am Czarina Schuet.

I took a deep breath before stepping inside.

The moment I entered the ballroom, several heads turned in my direction.

My stomach tightened.

Don't panic, Jade. Just walk normally and smile when necessary.

Don't talk too much. Most importantly, don't expose yourself. I repeated Czarina's instructions inside my head as I walked further into the room.

The ballroom looked nothing like the café where I spent most of my days. Everything glittered.

Gold decorations covered the walls. Crystal lights reflected against the polished floor. Waiters moved between guests carrying glasses of champagne while soft music played somewhere near the center of the room.

Everyone looked elegant, everyone belonged here. Except me.

I suddenly became painfully aware of the dress I was wearing. The same dress that had felt beautiful inside the hotel room now felt like a costume.

Because that's exactly what it was. A costume. Fake.

I wasn't supposed to be here.

"Miss Schuet."

I froze.

An older woman approached me with a warm smile.

For a second, I didn't know what to do. Then I remembered.

Smile.

I returned the gesture.

"Good evening."

Her eyes softened, "You look lovely tonight."

"Thank you."

She took my hand briefly. "Your grandfather must be very pleased."

My heart skipped. "Of course."

I hoped that was enough. She smiled again before moving away.

I released the breath I'd been holding. That was close.

I glanced around the ballroom. Nobody seemed suspicious. Maybe this would actually work. Maybe I could survive one evening.

Then I heard a familiar name from somewhere behind me.

"Connor Luciano has arrived."

My entire body stiffened.

No. Not yet.

I slowly turned toward the entrance. And there he was.

Connor Luciano.

For the first time, I saw him without a screen between us.

The photographs hadn't done him justice. He was taller than I expected, dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit. His expression was unreadable as he walked into the ballroom, surrounded by several men who immediately stepped aside whenever he passed.

People greeted him. He barely acknowledged them. His eyes moved across the room. Then they stopped.

On me.

My heart dropped. For one terrifying second, I forgot how to breathe.

Connor Luciano was looking directly at me.

I looked away. My heart pounded so much I couldn't breathe.

His eyes were too much for me.

I lowered my gaze and pretended to be interested in the glass of water in my hand.

Don't look at him. Don't look at him.

Maybe if I acted like I didn't notice him, he would lose interest.

I took a small sip. Then another.

But I was wrong... I could still feel his gaze on me.

My fingers tightened around the glass.

Why was he still looking?

I risked another glance.

He was no longer standing by the entrance. My eyes moved across the ballroom.

Nothing. He's gone.

Then a voice came from beside me.

"You're avoiding me."

I nearly dropped my glass. I turned slowly.

Connor Luciano was standing right in front of me. Up close, he was even more intimidating.

I had to tilt my head slightly to look at him.

His expression remained calm, almost indifferent, but there was something about the way he watched me that made me feel like he was trying to see through the mask.

"I wasn't," I answered.

The words came out quieter than I intended. One of his eyebrows lifted.

"You weren't?"

I shook my head. "No."

He stared at me for another second.

I suddenly remembered Czarina's instructions. You know how I talk. You know how I move.

The problem was... I wasn't Czarina.

I had no idea how she would talk to him. I cleared my throat.

"Good evening."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Good evening."

Silence.

An uncomfortable silence.

I looked around, hoping someone would interrupt us.

But nobody did.

Of course.

Everyone seemed perfectly happy to leave me alone with the man I was supposed to marry.

Or rather... The man Czarina was supposed to marry.

"You're quiet tonight," he said.

I forced a small smile. "Am I?"

"Usually, you have something to say... as I've heard from people."

My heart skipped.

I suddenly wished I had asked Czarina more about him.

"I suppose I'm just tired."

His gaze remained on me, "Tired?"

I nodded.

"The evening is just starting."

I smiled awkwardly. "I know."

He didn't smile back.

Instead, he looked at me for another moment before his attention shifted toward the mask covering my face.

"You look different."

My heart stopped. I forced myself not to move.

Different?

Was he suspicious?

I swallowed.

"Different how?"

He didn't answer immediately. His eyes returned to mine.

"I don't know."

He leaned slightly closer. "Maybe it's the mask."

I let out a nervous laugh. "Maybe."

For the first time, something almost resembling amusement appeared in his eyes.

Almost. Then he straightened.

"I'll see you later."

And just like that, he walked away.

I remained where I was. My heart was still racing. I stared at his back as he disappeared into the crowd.

That was it?

That was Connor Luciano?

I exhaled slowly.

I had spent the entire day imagining some terrifying monster.

Instead, I met a man who barely said ten words to me and somehow managed to make me forget how to breathe.

I touched my chest.

"This is going to be a long night."

Then I remembered something. He said he would see me later.

And for some reason... That scared me more than anything else.

What if he noticed?

Maybe he had Czarina investigated or background checked?

He's rich and he's bound to marry an heiress so that wouldn't be necessary.

"Miss Schuet!"

I stiffed as I turned to see two elderly woman approaching me.

One smiled warmly and the other remained staring.

"You look stunning. No wonder Mr. Luciano couldn't wait until you were introduce before he could approach you." The friendly one stated as she stood in front of me with a wine in her hand.

I smiled... trying to look composed even though I am already thinking of ways to escape this place.

"You seemed different tonight." The other woman said.

I looked at her, her mask hiding almost half of her face.

"You're sexier... is your family preparing too much for the union of your families?" She asked with a hint of mockery.

I felt my cheeks burn as I realized what she's trying to say.

"Marietta!" The friendly elder woman called her.

"What? Am I not allowed to ask?" She said as if she didn't try to offend me.

"Drop it. This might reach the Lucianos..." the other woman whispered.

But I heard them.

I smiled at them and laughed a bit.

"It's fine." I said looking at the friendly one. Then I looked at the woman beside her and smiled sweetly.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Marietta. My family didn't have to prepare. The Lucianos wanted me..." I said and walked away before either of them could respond.

My smile disappeared the moment their voices faded behind me.

What the hell was that?

I pressed my fingers against the side of my mask.

"You're different tonight."

The words kept repeating inside my head.

What if someone else noticed?

What if someone who actually knew Czarina well enough looked at me for more than a few seconds?

I glanced around the ballroom.

Everyone seemed busy with their own conversations, but suddenly I felt like every pair of eyes was following me.

I needed to calm down. I wasn't doing anything wrong.

Czarina had attended enough of these events that people were used to seeing her here. They expected her to look different sometimes. They expected her to dress differently.

And tonight was a masquerade. No one should question a mask.

I took a glass of water from a passing waiter.

My hand was still shaking.

"Get yourself together, Jade."

I whispered it beneath my breath.

"You only have to survive tonight."

I looked across the ballroom again.

Connor was nowhere in sight.

Good.

I didn't know whether I was relieved or disappointed by that.

Probably relieved.

I turned toward one of the tall windows, hoping the quiet corner would give me a moment to breathe.

Instead, I heard another voice behind me.

"Czarina?"

I froze. Slowly, I turned.

A young woman stood there, smiling uncertainly.

Then her expression brightened. "It really is you."

I smiled. "Of course."

She laughed. "I almost didn't recognize you."

My heart sank. Again?

"You're usually surrounded by your family during these things."

I shrugged lightly. "I wanted some space tonight."

She nodded.

"That makes sense."

She studied me for another moment.

"Are you nervous?"

"Nervous?"

"About the engagement."

My fingers tightened around the glass.

"Maybe a little."

She smiled.

"Don't worry. Everyone knows Connor is difficult, but you'll get used to him."

I nearly choked on my drink.

Get used to him?

That sounded terrifying.