STOLEN HEART

CHAPTER 3

ISABELLA



I lean against the bedroom wall biting my lips as I watch him completely undress from the black clothes he always wears because he says it's his favorite color.

“What if we send everyone away and cancel the party?", he proposes, smiling and looking at me as he pulls down his dress pants along with his boxer briefs.

My eyes travel down the length of the beautiful man I can call my own and at that moment I think how lucky I am to have him all to myself.

“That, unfortunately, won't happen, my darling!", I say with a laugh and a nod, turning away from him and heading for our closet as I hear him enter the bathroom, and seconds later the sound of the shower is heard.

I take the opportunity to take my dress out of the protective bag and carefully put on the model that fits my body perfectly, facing the mirror I look at my reflection seeing the woman I have become.

I feel more powerful than ever and am happy, whirling around and observing every detail of the red model that they made perfectly and exclusively for me at this party.

My dress is a strapless scarlet red model with a V-shaped neckline across my midriff, the skirt of the dress drapes across the floor in a puffy way, and a slit in the left leg that trails down to the top of my thighs completes the charm and finish of the dress.

I put on the jewelry I bought today at the mall and a pair of transparent heels, my makeup is heavier for the occasion while my hair is lightly pinned up and loose at the same time.

“Damn it!", I turn around to find Lorenzo with only a towel around his waist as he looks at me unblinking.

“Did you like it?", I spin around again seeing him sigh.

“You better get out of this closet before I stop controlling myself and end up crumpling or damaging your perfect dress when I f**k you hard against the wall, Bella?"

I laugh seeing his pained face as I leave the closet to let him get dressed without my presence teasing him the whole time, a knock on the door catches my attention and when I open it I see Derick, one of Lorenzo's most trusted security guards and his right-hand man.

“Yes, Derick?", I smile shyly seeing that I have also left the man stunned as he swallows dryly before controlling himself not to stutter in front of me.

“Miss, I just came to warn you that the guests are already starting to arrive..."

“Thank you, we won't be long, Derick!", I warn him and receive a nod from him, who hurries off down the hall.

While Lorenzo is still finishing getting dressed inside the closet, I follow him back to the balcony where I see a line of cars waiting for the entrance to be cleared, many people are already crossing the entrance and heading inside the mansion with their costumes and masks on their faces.

“Are you ready, amore mio?"

When I turn in Lorenzo's direction I stare wide-eyed at such beauty in the form of a man, he has indeed chosen a kind of suit as dark as his hair, but in the pocket of his blazer, there is a red scarf that matches the tie he wears which is also the same color as my dress.

“Now I'm considering canceling the party and sending everyone else away.", I smile and take his hand, which he extends in my direction.

“We're going to be the most beautiful couple everyone has ever seen...", he whispers before kissing me ardently.

We're like flames that never go out, we're always needing each other around and it makes me think about how much I love my beast.

“Oh, I almost forgot about that...", he lets go of my hand to pick up a dark box on top of the created world that I hadn't realized was there yet.

When Lorenzo opens the box facing me, I see two beautiful masks that also match each other, mine is made with some sort of black feathers while Lorenzo's is almost as similar to mine.

“Turn around, Bella.", I do as he asks, feeling the silk mask slide over my eyes as he finishes tying the bows behind my head.

He easily puts on his mask and with entwined hands, we leave the room listening to the sound of classical and cheerful music coming from the dance hall.

On the way to the space where the party is taking place, Lorenzo greets all the security guards on standby and asks them to still be on the alert because one never knows what can happen at any moment when it comes to a family with many enemies like the members of the Mancini family.

Two employees dressed appropriately for the event open the double doors that lead to the hall of the mansion, when we enter with our hands still intertwined everyone stops what they are doing to watch us enter.

I had no idea that there would be so many people present, there are people and friends of Lorenzo that I have been introduced to a few times, but there are many people that I have never seen in my life, and this makes me realize that my fiancé is a very well-known man.

As we walk through the hall, I see that everyone is in character with fancy dresses and suits and masks of all kinds on their faces.

But no man here can surpass the beauty and power that Lorenzo emanates just by his presence in this place, and being with him I can also enjoy a little of all this power and attention.

I notice that we are heading in the direction of the huge table where Lorenzo's younger brothers and his girlfriends are seated, and their eyes widen as they watch us approach.

“Bella, where did you get that dress?", Marina stands up quickly giving me a glimpse of her beautiful blue dress.

“I can only say it was Lorenzo's work...", I smile pointing at my fiancé who greets the girls with kisses on the cheeks.

“Happy birthday, fierce beast!", I can't control a giggle when Luca congratulates his older brother using the nickname, I gave him.

“Call me that again and let's see what this beast here can do little brother...", he says in a serious tone, but I can see a hint of a smile as he accepts Luca's embrace.

“Many years of life, Lorenzo!", Marco also gets up from the table to greet his brother with a pat on the shoulder.

“You two are attracting a lot of attention...", Luca says, pointing with his head in the direction of a group of people who are still looking at us curiously.

I greet the Mancini brothers and the girls before settling down at a table while Lorenzo says he needs to talk and greet the guests at the party, he invites me to do the same, but I shyly deny it wanting to be at the table with people closer to me.

“So, have you given Lorenzo his birthday presents yet?", Giulia whispers nudging me, but I deny it with a smile.

“Not yet, only after the party...", I say looking at the tall imposing man shaking hands with several people around him.

The five of us spent a long time talking at the table, but the conversation never got serious because Luca always found a way to make everyone laugh, even Marco who is the most reserved of all couldn't hold back a smile.

“Would you do me this honor, my lovely Bella?", I raise my head to find Lorenzo with his hand outstretched in my direction.

“With pleasure, my fierce beast...", I reply, making everyone at the table laugh as Lorenzo leads me to the center of the dance hall where many couples are doing the same.

A band of classical instruments is playing beautifully as Lorenzo and I begin to dance in perfect synchrony, a detail about my fiancé is that he is a lover of classical and traditional things.

Lorenzo loves the arts, and it's no wonder that there are rare paintings and pictures scattered all over the mansion, but he was also the one who taught me how to dance this way.

I still remember well this happening a little more than a year ago, I remember well the glances that we exchanged while dancing together for the first time, it was there that I realized that there was something wrong with me, I realized that I was feeling something more for the man that I should hate with all my strength.

I hated him at first for being so cold as to take away my freedom, but it is so strange to say that the hate somehow turned into love.

I began to enjoy spending time with the reserved man who never missed an opportunity to put me down, but I began not to let it shake me and that's how his frozen heart gradually softened.

I remember feeling like I was dreaming when he kissed me for the first time in that same garden outside the mansion.

“What are you thinking, love?", I lift my head, meeting Lorenzo's green eyes gazing intently.