Alessia Mancini
A few hours later, I stood before the ornate gilded mirror in my bedroom, smoothing down the silky fabric of my floor-length yellow dress. The slit up the thigh felt daring, exposing more skin than I was used to. But tonight was about making an impression, about playing a role.
"You look stunning, Alex," Riley said, appearing behind me. She was a vision in emerald green, one of my own dresses that hugged her curves perfectly.
I met her eyes in the mirror, seeing a mixture of excitement and apprehension there. "So do you," I replied, forcing a smile. "Ready to dive into the lion's den?"
Riley's laugh was a touch too high, betraying her nerves. "As I'll ever be."
We made our way downstairs, the click of our heels echoing through the villa's marble halls. Giovanni was wai
