THE DEVIL'S HEIRESS

Chapter 8 - Not Interested

The music continued as though nothing had happened.

Yet half the ballroom was still staring at them.

No one could quite believe what they had just witnessed.

Alex Bellucci...

Had been rejected.

Publicly.

Zara leaned closer to Kai.

"...Did she really just do that?"

Kai took a sip of his drink.

"Would you believe me if I said I expected it?"

"I don't know whether to admire her or be scared of her."

"A little of both."

Alex, however, remained surprisingly composed.

He withdrew his hand as though he had never extended it in the first place.

"I suppose," he said calmly, "I should have expected that."

"You should have."

"Then allow me to ask a different question."

Sienna looked at him.

"I'm listening."

"What would it take for you to say yes?"

She didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she took another sip of her sparkling water.

Then...

"Nothing."

A nearby businessman nearly choked on his champagne.

Alex let out a quiet laugh.

"I appreciate honesty."

"I wasn't trying to impress you."

"I know."

"You seem to laugh a lot around me."

"Do I?"

"You weren't laughing during yesterday's meeting."

"Yesterday was business."

"And today?"

"Today..."

His eyes met hers.

"...is interesting."

Before Sienna could respond, the host of the gala stepped onto the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

"If I may have your attention."

The conversations gradually died down.

"As many of you know, tonight's charity auction is dedicated to funding educational scholarships across Europe."

Applause filled the ballroom.

"Our first item this evening..."

A velvet cloth was removed from an easel.

"...is an original painting by renowned artist Matteo Ricci."

The bidding began immediately.

"One hundred thousand euros."

"One hundred and fifty."

"Two hundred."

Sienna quietly observed.

She had no interest in participating.

She attended because it was expected of her.

Not because she enjoyed events like this.

One item after another was auctioned.

Paintings.

Rare watches.

Vintage wines.

Jewelry.

By the halfway point, nearly four million euros had been raised.

The host smiled brightly.

"Our final item..."

A waiter rolled out a small glass display case.

Inside rested a sapphire necklace.

Gasps spread across the room.

"This masterpiece belonged to the Bellucci family for generations."

Whispers immediately followed.

"They're auctioning that?"

"I heard it's priceless."

Alex folded his arms.

The necklace meant little to him.

He had donated it for charity months ago.

The bidding started.

"Five hundred thousand."

"Six hundred."

"Seven."

"One million."

The numbers climbed rapidly.

Sienna remained silent.

Until...

She noticed an elderly woman at the front of the room.

The woman smiled sadly before lowering her bidding paddle.

Zara noticed too.

"She looks disappointed."

Kai nodded.

"I think she wanted it."

The host called out.

"One million, eight hundred thousand."

"Going once..."

"Going twice..."

Sienna slowly raised her paddle.

"Two million."

The ballroom turned.

Alex's eyes found her immediately.

The host smiled.

"Two million euros!"

Another bidder hesitated.

Then slowly lowered his paddle.

"Sold!"

Applause erupted.

Zara blinked.

"You just spent two million euros."

Kai looked equally surprised.

"I thought you weren't interested."

"I wasn't."

"Then why?"

Sienna looked toward the elderly woman.

"She'll receive it."

Kai frowned.

"What?"

"I bought it."

She shrugged.

"I'm giving it to her."

Zara stared.

"You don't even know her."

"I don't need to."

Across the room...

Alex watched everything.

The elderly woman stood frozen.

Tears shimmered in her eyes as Sienna walked over carrying the necklace.

"I believe..."

Sienna smiled politely.

"...this belongs with someone who truly loves it."

The woman covered her mouth.

"My dear..."

"I can't possibly—"

"You can."

"It's a gift."

The woman embraced Sienna tightly.

"Thank you."

"I've admired this necklace since I was a little girl."

"My late husband always promised he'd buy it for me someday."

She laughed softly through her tears.

"I suppose he's finally kept his promise."

Several guests discreetly wiped their eyes.

Even Zara looked emotional.

Kai smiled proudly.

"...That's our Sienna."

Alex didn't say a word.

He simply watched.

He'd assumed she was cold.

Emotionless.

Untouchable.

Instead...

She had just spent two million euros...

Only to give away what she'd bought.

Without expecting recognition.

Without announcing it.

Without making a scene.

His grandmother quietly walked up beside him.

"So..."

Alex looked at the elderly woman.

"Grandmother."

She smiled knowingly.

"She's different."

Alex remained silent.

"You've been watching her all evening."

"I've been observing."

"Mm."

His grandmother chuckled.

"That's what your grandfather used to call staring."

Alex looked away.

"I don't stare."

"No?"

"No."

She laughed.

"My dear grandson..."

She gently patted his arm.

"...I've never seen you smile this much."

Alex frowned slightly.

"Have I?"

"Yes."

"And judging by the way you're looking at that young woman..."

She lowered her voice.

"...you're in trouble."

Alex almost laughed.

"I've known her for less than two days."

His grandmother nodded.

"I know."

"That's exactly why I'm worried."

Before Alex could reply...

His assistant approached.

"Sir."

"The press would like a photograph with tonight's guests."

Alex nodded.

"Arrange it."

As photographers gathered everyone together...

The organizer looked around nervously.

"We'll need Mr. Bellucci and Miss De Luca in the center."

Sienna sighed inwardly.

Of course.

She walked to the middle.

Alex stood beside her.

The photographer smiled.

"A little closer, please."

Neither moved.

"A little closer."

Still nothing.

Finally...

Kai casually walked over.

"Allow me."

Before either of them realized what he was doing...

Kai gently nudged Sienna half a step forward.

She stumbled slightly.

Alex instinctively caught her by the waist.

Click!

The camera flashed.

Click!

Another.

Click!

Another.

For the briefest second...

Their eyes met.

Neither spoke.

Neither looked away.

The photographer grinned.

"Perfect."

Kai smiled innocently.

"My apologies."

Zara leaned toward him and whispered,

"You did that on purpose."

Kai smirked.

"...Maybe."

Alex slowly released Sienna.

She took one step back.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

She looked at him for a moment before walking away with Zara and Kai.

Alex watched her leave.

Again.

His grandmother appeared beside him once more.

"Still observing?"

Alex smiled faintly.

"No."

"What then?"

He slipped one hand into his pocket.

"...I'm becoming curious."

His grandmother laughed.

"Oh, Alex..."

"Curiosity has always been the beginning of your biggest problems."

________

The ride back to the hotel was unusually quiet.

Zara was the first to break the silence.

"So..."

No one answered.

She looked at Sienna through the rearview mirror.

"...How many CEOs have asked you to dance before?"

Sienna looked out the window.

"One."

"And?"

"I rejected him."

Kai couldn't hold back a laugh.

"You really did."

"I don't dance."

Zara scoffed.

"You don't do anything."

"I work."

"You breathe work."

"It pays."

Kai shook his head.

"One day, someone's going to drag you out of that office."

"I'd like to see them try."

Zara exchanged a knowing look with Kai.

"I think we already know someone willing to."

Sienna ignored her.

...

The next morning...

Sienna was already seated in the hotel's business lounge with her laptop open.

She wore a cream-colored pantsuit, her hair tied neatly into a low ponytail.

Her coffee had gone cold nearly twenty minutes ago.

Kai walked in carrying breakfast.

"I knew you skipped it."

"I wasn't hungry."

"You say that every morning."

He placed a croissant beside her laptop.

"Eat."

"I'm busy."

"Eat first."

She looked up.

"...Are you my mother?"

"No."

"Then stop acting like one."

Kai smiled.

"If I don't remind you, you'll survive on coffee."

"And?"

"And you'll get a headache."

"...Fine."

She reluctantly tore off a small piece of the croissant.

"There."

"You call that eating?"

"It counts."

Kai sighed dramatically.

"I worry about you."

"I know."

"And you never listen."

"I know."

Before Kai could say another word, Zara hurried into the lounge with her phone in hand.

"You two!"

Kai looked up.

"What happened?"

"You are not going to believe this."

She placed her phone on the table.

The headline read:

**'BELLUCCI CEO FINALLY SMILES AT CHARITY GALA. MYSTERY WOMAN CAPTURES HIS ATTENTION.'**

Beneath it...

Was a photo.

Alex holding Sienna by the waist after she'd stumbled during the photograph.

Another showed them standing side by side.

Another...

Showed Alex looking directly at her while she looked away.

Kai frowned.

"They're making it sound romantic."

"It isn't."

Sienna calmly continued reading her emails.

Zara blinked.

"You're not even angry?"

"They're tabloids."

"They'll forget by next week."

Kai wasn't convinced.

"They might not."

Just then...

The hotel receptionist approached nervously.

"Miss De Luca?"

Sienna looked up.

"Yes?"

"There's someone asking to see you."

"I don't have any appointments."

"He insisted."

Kai stood.

"I'll handle it."

"No."

Sienna closed her laptop.

"I'll go."

...

The hotel lobby buzzed with guests checking in and out.

The moment Sienna stepped off the elevator...

She spotted him.

Alex Bellucci.

Standing near the reception desk with both hands in his pockets.

Several women discreetly admired him from afar.

Some whispered.

Others pretended not to stare.

He noticed Sienna immediately.

"There you are."

She stopped a few feet away.

"Mr. Bellucci."

"I was beginning to think you'd escaped Milan."

"I considered it."

He smiled.

"I believe that."

"What brings you here?"

"I came to see you."

"You could've called."

"I don't have your number."

"There's a reason for that."

Kai arrived moments later, stopping beside Sienna.

He looked at Alex politely.

"Mr. Bellucci."

"Kai."

Alex acknowledged him with a small nod.

The atmosphere shifted.

Not hostile.

But...

Careful.

Alex looked back at Sienna.

"I came with a proposal."

"We've already signed the contract."

"This isn't business."

"Then I'm not interested."

"You haven't heard it yet."

"I don't need to."

Kai hid another smile.

Alex noticed.

"So..."

He looked at Kai.

"Does she reject everyone this quickly?"

Kai shrugged.

"Usually quicker."

Alex chuckled.

"I was afraid of that."

Sienna folded her arms.

"Mr. Bellucci."

"Alex."

"I'm not calling you Alex."

"Why?"

"We're business partners."

"So?"

"So professionalism exists."

He nodded thoughtfully.

"Then call me Mr. Bellucci."

"I already was."

"And outside work?"

"There is no outside work."

Kai couldn't stop himself.

"She's serious."

"I can see that."

Alex reached into his jacket pocket.

He pulled out a small white envelope.

"This is for you."

Sienna didn't take it.

"What is it?"

"Open it."

"I'd rather not."

"You'll hurt my feelings."

"I'll recover."

Alex laughed again.

"You really enjoy rejecting me."

"I enjoy peace."

Finally...

She accepted the envelope.

Inside...

Was a handwritten card.

She opened it.

One sentence.

**Dinner. Tonight. 7 p.m.**

She looked back at him.

"...This is your proposal?"

"Yes."

She folded the card and slipped it back into the envelope.

"No."

Alex sighed dramatically.

"I was optimistic."

"You shouldn't have been."

Kai bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing.

Alex looked at him.

"You're enjoying this."

"A little."

Alex shook his head.

"I expected you to convince her."

Kai looked genuinely confused.

"Why would I do that?"

"You're her friend."

"Exactly."

Alex stared at him for a moment.

Then smiled.

"Fair enough."

He turned back to Sienna.

"I'll ask again."

"I know."

"And one day..."

He took a step backward.

"...you'll say yes."

Sienna looked him straight in the eye.

"I admire confidence."

"And?"

"Overconfidence usually ends badly."

Alex laughed one last time before turning toward the exit.

Just before getting into his car...

He looked back.

"Oh..."

Sienna raised an eyebrow.

"You still owe me."

She frowned slightly.

"For what?"

"My tip."

Kai looked between them.

"...Your what?"

Alex grinned.

"I'll explain someday."

With that...

He climbed into the waiting car and drove away.

Silence.

Kai slowly turned toward Sienna.

"...Should I ask?"

"No."

"Will you tell me?"

"No."

Zara arrived just in time to see Alex's car disappear.

"What did I miss?"

Kai pointed toward Sienna.

"I don't know..."

He looked at her suspiciously.

"...But apparently she owes Europe's richest CEO a tip."

Sienna closed her eyes for a brief moment.

"...This trip needs to end."