So, he is a playboy?
1250 Words
Lorenzo’s POV
Bianca was gone, yet I stayed at my desk, staring at the neat stack of papers before me. Work was supposed to ground me, give me focus, but tonight, no matter how hard I tried, my mind refused to cooperate. Every thought circled back to her.
Her lips. The memory of them pressed to mine lingered in my head like a fire I could not extinguish. The taste, the warmth, the softness, it haunted me and made me restless.
She was too young. She should have been someone I looked at as a daughter, nothing more. Yet I could not stop thinking about her. Every detail, the brush of her body against mine, the quiet sounds she had made, pulled at me, leaving me craving more. My imagination spiraled, picturing what it would be like if I let myself go further, if I took her completely.
"Damn it," I muttered, running a hand over my face. What was wrong with me? I should not want her. I should not be thinking about her like this.
Just as my thoughts threatened to consume me, the phone rang. The sudden sound cut through my haze. For the first time that night, I welcomed a distraction.
I glanced at the screen: an unknown number. My jaw tightened, and without speaking, I answered.
Silence lingered for a moment before a familiar voice slipped through, casual, almost mocking.
"Hello, Lorenzo."
I leaned back, gripping the phone tightly. "Why are you calling?" My tone was sharp, cold.
"I heard you are back in the country. Billionaire now, huh?" His laugh grated against my nerves.
"Do you have an actual reason for calling, or are you just wasting my time?" I snapped. Irritation prickled along my skin.
"How many lives did it take to get you this far?" His tone shifted, serious now.
"Enough to get me where I am," I replied evenly, every word carrying a subtle warning.
"There is a big job coming up," he said, ignoring me. "Thought you might be interested."
"I told you a year ago, I am done. I do not do that anymore."
He laughed, louder this time, the sound rough in my ears. "You? Lorenzo Ronald? Retired? You expect me to believe you have not spilled a drop of blood in an entire year?"
"I do not care what you believe," I said, lowering my voice, letting the dark edge in it slide through. "But if you do not hang up right now, I will remind you exactly why people used to fear me."
He chuckled again, unbothered. "Fine. I will end it. But you and I both know you will come back. You always do. And when you finally realize it, you will have already missed your chance."
The line went dead. I dropped the phone onto the desk with a groan, eyes drifting across the room to the shelf lined with business books. They were supposed to represent my new life, my clean start. But no matter how many I read or how much money I earned, the past refused to let go.
Once you step into the mafia, leaving is not just difficult, it is almost impossible. A year ago, I had done the unthinkable and walked away. But even now, I could not fully escape. Cutting ties completely would expose me, make me vulnerable, and that was a risk I could not take. I stayed in the shadows, pretending to live freely while keeping watch over every step. It was the only way to survive.
I told myself I was finished with the life that had destroyed my family, my peace, my humanity. Yet deep down, I knew Ronald had been right. I was too drawn to blood, too addicted to chaos, to ever walk away entirely. And that truth terrified me more than anything else.
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Bianca’s POV
Nadia and I were settled in our favourite café, and she would not stop talking about Gabriel, the guy she was determined for me to meet. She kept going on about how handsome he was and how everyone said he was incredible in bed.
"So, he is a playboy?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, not at all!" Nadia said quickly, as if offended. "He is actually sweet and loyal. At least, that is what I have heard." Her words calmed me a little, but my thoughts kept drifting to someone else entirely.
Suddenly, Nadia straightened in her chair. "Oh, there he is!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. I turned and saw Gabriel walking toward our table. He smiled at me first before glancing at Nadia.
"Hello, ladies," he greeted, his voice smooth.
"Hi," I replied, offering a polite smile. Noticing the empty chair across from me, I quickly said, "Please, sit."
"Thanks," he said, sliding into the seat.
Nadia leaned forward, grinning. "Gabriel, this is my best friend, Bianca. Bianca, meet Gabriel."
"It is nice to meet you, Bianca. You are even prettier up close," he said, leaning slightly across the table.
I returned his smile. "You are very good-looking yourself. Nadia was not exaggerating." He chuckled softly.
Nadia stood, still grinning. "Looks like you two are hitting it off. I will leave you to it. I have somewhere to be." She winked at me before walking away.
Gabriel gave her a wave and then turned his attention back to me. "So, Bianca, I noticed you only ordered coffee. Would you like something else?"
"No, I am fine, but you can order if you want," I replied.
He smiled warmly. "I am good for now. Honestly, just hearing your voice is better than anything I could order." His tone was charming, and on another day, I might have felt flattered. But my mind kept drifting elsewhere, to Lorenzo Ronald, my father’s best friend.
I could not stop comparing Gabriel to Lorenzo. Lorenzo’s voice was deeper, his presence stronger, his body far more imposing. Even the sweetest compliments from Gabriel could not match the pull I felt when Lorenzo looked at me.
Damn it, I thought. I had agreed to meet Gabriel hoping it would help me forget Lorenzo, that kiss last night, and the sudden craving for more. But it was useless.
"Are you alright?" Gabriel’s voice drew me back to the present.
"Yes, I am fine," I said quickly, forcing a smile.
"Good," he said, looking down for a moment. Then he leaned in slightly. "I have noticed you around campus over the past few weeks, and I have really liked what I saw. When Nadia said she would introduce us, I was thrilled."
I managed a small smile. "You are one of the most popular guys at school. And you are interested in me?"
His grin widened. "Do you not see how beautiful you are? Or are you just pretending to be modest?"
A soft laugh escaped me as I played along. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Not yet," he replied confidently. "But I hope that will change soon. With you."
His words were bold, but they did not have the effect he expected. No matter how much he looked at me, his attention could not match the pull I felt toward Lorenzo.
This is wrong, I reminded myself. I should not be thinking about my father’s best friend. I need to let go of Lorenzo and give Gabriel a real chance.
I promised myself I would push Lorenzo from my thoughts completely… or at least I wished I could.
- Writer
