The charity gala was a mistake.
Elena knew it the second she saw the guest list.
And Alessandro’s name was right at the top.
Of course it was.
“You’re not skipping this,” her assistant had said earlier.
“It’s optional,” Elena replied.
“It’s Moretti-sponsored. Nothing about it is optional.”
That shut her up.
So now she stood in front of a mirror she didn’t trust, adjusting a dress she didn’t want to wear.
Because tonight wasn’t about choice.
It was about appearance.
And damage control.
When she arrived, the room went quiet for half a second.
Then resumed whispering.
Always whispering.
And then she saw him.
Alessandro.
Already there.
Already watching.
Like he’d been waiting.
He walked over immediately.
No hesitation.
No performance.
Just him.
“You came,” he said.
Ele
