Alessia Mancini
I stared at him, caught off guard by his certainty. Part of me wanted to prove him wrong, to walk out that door and never look back. But another part… a part I was afraid to examine too closely, knew he was right.
My fingers traced the cool, polished surface of his desk as I gathered my thoughts.
"I need to think about this," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "What you're offering... it's not a simple decision."
Giovanni leaned forward, his presence overwhelming in the confined space of his office. "Take all the time you need, cara," he murmured. The endearment sent a jolt through me, equal parts thrill and warning.
I stood, suddenly needing space to breathe. The plush carpet muffled my steps as I moved to the window, gazing out at the glittering expanse
