The dinner party was now in full swing. Soft classical music was playing in the background; waiters were moving around with wine glasses and gourmet dishes, and powerful people from all over Italy were walking from table to table, greeting, networking, and making alliances. One by one, many business families came to greet the Romanos.

"Mr. Romano, always a pleasure."
"Mrs. Romano, we've heard a lot about you."
"Donato, we must meet next week about the Milan project."

Kiara stayed beside Donato the whole time, smiling politely, greeting people, speaking when needed, and mostly observing. She was learning how people talked, how deals were hinted at without being spoken directly, and how power moved silently in rooms like this.

Meanwhile, Vittoria, the CEO of Moretti Infrastructure Group, realized something very clearly. Talking to Donato alone tonight was almost impossible. Every time she tried, either Kiara joined the conversation, or another business partner came, or Donato himself moved to talk to someone else. So after some time, Vittoria politely excused herself and went to talk to other business partners.

The moment she left the table, Kiara slightly smirked to herself. Mission completed, she thought. But the story didn't end there. From across the hall, Vittoria still kept looking toward Donato from time to time. Not openly, but in small glances — during conversations, while sipping her drink, while laughing with others.

And every single time she looked at Donato... Kiara was already looking at her. Not smiling. Not blinking. Just looking. A calm, sharp, warning stare. The first time Vittoria looked and found Kiara already staring at her, she was surprised and politely smiled before looking away.

The second time, she did the same. The third time, she understood. The wife knows. After that, every time Vittoria looked toward Donato, she first checked if Kiara was looking. And most of the time... She was.

Donato, who was standing beside Kiara talking to another businessman, was silently observing all of this from the corner of his eye. He knew exactly what was happening between his wife and that ambitious CEO. He took a sip of his drink and leaned slightly toward Kiara without looking at her.

"You are scaring people," he said quietly.

Kiara didn't look at him either. "Good," she replied calmly. "Some people need to be scared."

Donato smiled slightly. "You know," he said, "in business meetings people are scared of me."

Kiara finally turned her head and looked at him. "And in personal matters," she said softly, "they should be scared of me."

Donato almost laughed but controlled himself. "Remind me," he said quietly, "never to fight with you." She gave him a small, satisfied smile.

Across the hall, Enzo was watching them while talking to Liya and another investor. He noticed Kiara glaring at Vittoria, then Donato trying not to laugh. He shook his head slightly. "Love makes dangerous people even more dangerous," he muttered to himself. And tonight, Mrs. Donato Romano looked very dangerous indeed.

___

The soft music slowly faded as the host walked onto the stage and tapped the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?" he announced with a smile. "Tonight is a very special evening, not only because Italy's greatest business families are gathered here, but also because tonight we celebrate a new partnership between two of the most powerful business empires in Italy."

People started paying attention. Conversations slowed. "It is my honor to invite on stage one of the most influential businessmen in Europe—Mr. Donato Romano." Applause filled the hall.

"And tonight, he will also officially announce the partnership with the De Luca Group, hosted by the De Luca family—the second richest business family in Italy. Their youngest son and current CEO, Adrian De Luca, is the one who organized this evening." More applause.

Donato looked at Kiara and leaned slightly toward her. "Stay here, okay? I will be back in a minute," he said softly. "And don't worry, Enzo is behind you. You don't have to be nervous."

Kiara looked at him calmly. "I am not," she replied confidently.

He looked at her for a second, then smiled slightly. "That's good," he said. Then he looked at Enzo, who was standing a little behind them. Enzo gave a small nod—a silent conversation between them.

I am here. Don't worry.

Then Donato looked toward his parents. Aravi gave him a thumbs-up, and Alessandro nodded proudly. Donato adjusted his suit slightly, then walked toward the stage. 

Kiara sat back in her chair, holding a glass of juice in her hand, and looked toward the stage where her husband was now standing. And for a moment, she didn't hear anything around her. Because from where she was sitting, under the golden lights, on that stage, Donato looked unreal.

Tall. Straight posture. Black suit perfectly fitted. Hair neatly styled. Confidence in the way he stood. Calm in the way he held the microphone. He didn't look like just a businessman. He looked like someone who owned the room without even trying.

Like a king, she thought.

No.

Like someone more dangerous than a king.

He stood there, one hand in his pocket, the other holding the mic, and started speaking in a calm, deep, confident voice. Everyone in the hall was listening. But Kiara wasn't really listening to the speech. She was looking at him.

The way he spoke without hesitation. The way people watched him with respect. The way even older businessmen listened carefully when he spoke. The way he slightly moved his head while explaining something. The way his voice stayed calm but powerful. And suddenly one thought came into her mind—

This man is not just my husband.

This man is Donato Romano.

And the world listens when he speaks.

She took a small sip of her juice, still looking at him. "And he is mine," she whispered very quietly to herself. On the stage, Donato's eyes moved across the hall once while speaking. For just one second, his eyes met hers. He didn't stop speaking. But a very small smile appeared on his lips. And Kiara noticed.

Once Donato finished his speech, the hall filled with applause. He thanked everyone politely, shook hands with a few people near the stage, and then stepped down. Immediately after, Adrian De Luca went up on stage to deliver his speech about the new partnership and future projects.

Donato walked straight back to the table and sat beside Kiara. Before he could even say anything, Kiara spoke quietly, looking at him.

"You look very handsome today."

Donato froze for a second. This was the first time Kiara had complimented him like that — openly, directly, without hesitation. He looked at her for a moment, then a slow smile appeared on his face.

"I have to look handsome," he replied calmly. "After all, a beauty queen is sitting beside me. I have to match her. We can't adjust with bare minimum." Kiara laughed openly at that, and Donato just looked at her for a second, quietly.

You're making me crazy, Kiara, he thought.

After all the speeches were finished, the host announced that dinner was now open. People started moving toward the buffet, picking food, standing in groups, eating, talking, laughing, discussing business and politics at the same time.

The Romanos stayed mostly around their reserved table, with light food placed on the table while they talked with different business partners who came to greet them. After some time, Adrian De Luca — the CEO of De Luca Group  — walked toward their table.

He was tall, confident, well-dressed, and clearly used to power and attention. He first shook hands with Alessandro Romano. "Mr. Romano, it's an honor." Then he shook hands with Aravi. "Mrs. Romano, pleasure to meet you again."

Then he turned to Donato. "Donato, finally we close this deal," he said with a smile, and they shook hands firmly — a handshake between two powerful men who both knew the value of the partnership. Then Adrian turned toward Kiara.

"And you must be Mrs. Romano," he said politely, extending his hand. Kiara smiled politely and he placed his hand in for her to  handshake. Adrian held her hand for a second longer than necessary.

Donato noticed immediately. His expression didn't change. But inside, something definitely changed. He did not like other men touching his wife. At all. But this was a business dinner, and Adrian was an important partner. So Donato didn't react outwardly. He simply picked up his glass and took a slow sip, watching them calmly.

"You're very lucky, Mr Donato," Adrian said, still smiling. "To have such beauty beside you."

Kiara politely smiled. "Thank you."

Donato put his glass down slowly and replied in a calm voice, "I know." while circling his hand on her waist." The way he said it made it sound less like a polite reply and more like a statement.

She is mine.

Adrian then started discussing business. "The Milan logistics corridor project — our legal team has reviewed the final documents. We can sign within two weeks," Adrian said.

Donato nodded. "Our side is ready. Once the permits are cleared, we start phase one immediately."

Alessandro joined the conversation. "Infrastructure investment will be long-term. We are not looking at five years, we are looking at twenty."

Adrian smiled. "That's why we wanted Romano Group as partners."

They continued discussing numbers, expansion, ports, logistics routes, international shipping contracts — serious business talk.

Kiara mostly listened, but sometimes Donato would briefly explain something to her quietly, and Adrian noticed that too. "So Mrs. Romano is also involved in business?" Adrian asked.

Donato replied calmly, "Yes. She works with me."

Adrian looked slightly impressed. "That's good. Business families grow stronger when partners work together."

Donato nodded slightly, but his eyes briefly moved toward Adrian's hand — the same hand that had held Kiara's a little too long. Donato smiled politely throughout the conversation.

But Kiara, who was sitting beside him, knew him well enough now. His face was calm. His voice was calm. But his jaw was slightly tight. And she realized something.

Donato Romano is jealous.

She almost smiled.

Adrian De Luca stayed with the Romano table longer than most business partners. The conversation started with business, investments, logistics, ports, contracts — but slowly, very smoothly, Adrian started including Kiara in the conversation more and more.

"So, Mrs. Romano," Adrian said, turning slightly toward her, "Donato said you are also working with Romano Group now?"

Kiara nodded politely. "Yes, I recently started going to the office with him."

"And how do you find the Italian business world?" Adrian asked with a charming smile. "Very different from India, I assume."

"It is different," she replied calmly. "But business language is the same everywhere — numbers, strategy, risk, and patience."

Adrian smiled, clearly impressed. "That's a very accurate answer."

Donato was standing right beside her, listening quietly while holding a wine glass, talking occasionally with Alessandro and another investor, but his attention was very much on this conversation.

Adrian continued, "You worked in your family business in India, right?"

Kiara nodded. "Yes, Rajput Group."

"I've heard about Rajput Group," Adrian said. "Your family has strong infrastructure and mining operations, if I am not wrong."

Kiara was slightly surprised he knew that. "Yes, that's correct."

"Then Donato didn't just marry a beautiful woman," Adrian said with a smile. "He married a business asset."

Kiara smiled politely, but before she could reply, Donato spoke calmly, "I married my wife, Mr. De Luca. Business skills were a bonus."

Adrian smiled slightly at that response. "Of course." But he still continued talking to Kiara. "So tell me, Mrs. Romano, who is more difficult to work with — Rajput Group or Romano Group?" Adrian asked playfully.

Kiara thought for a second, then said, "Rajput Group had strict rules. Romano Group has dangerous deadlines. So both are difficult in different ways."

Adrian laughed. Alessandro also smiled slightly at that answer.

"You are interesting, Mrs. Romano," Adrian said. "Most people in these dinners only talk about fashion, travel, and parties."

Kiara replied calmly, "Then they are wasting good networking opportunities."

Adrian looked at her with clear interest now — not just polite interest, but genuine curiosity.

Donato noticed that. Very clearly.

Adrian picked up two glasses from the passing waiter and offered one to Kiara. "Juice," he said. "Since you are not drinking wine."

"Thank you," she said and took the glass.

Donato watched the entire interaction silently. Calm face. Sharp eyes.

Adrian leaned slightly closer while talking, not in an obvious way, but enough that Donato noticed.

"So, Mrs. Romano," Adrian said, "you must be finding Italy very different from India. Culture, people, lifestyle..."

"Yes," she said, "but Romano family made it easy."

"That helps," Adrian said. "Otherwise Italy can be very difficult for outsiders."

Donato finally placed his glass on the table and stepped slightly closer to Kiara — not aggressively, just enough that now he was standing very close to her chair, his hand resting lightly on the back of her chair.

A silent message. She is not alone. Adrian noticed that too. He smiled slightly, understanding the message. "Donato," Adrian said casually, "you are a very lucky man."

Donato replied calmly, "I know. People keep reminding me tonight." Kiara tried very hard not to smile.

Adrian then said something that made the air slightly tense. "If you were not Donato Romano," Adrian said with a half smile, "I would have definitely tried to impress Mrs. Romano."

Silence for one second. Alessandro slowly looked at Donato. Enzo, who had just walked near their table, heard that sentence and stopped. Kiara looked at Adrian.

Donato looked directly into Adrian's eyes. Then he smiled. But it was not a friendly smile. It was a very calm, very controlled, very dangerous smile. "Good thing," Donato said slowly, "that I am Donato Romano."

Adrian laughed lightly after Donato's dangerous calm reply. "I was just joking, Donato. Chill," Adrian said with a smile, raising his hands slightly in a playful surrender.

But Donato didn't smile back. "I am not," Donato replied calmly.

There was a brief silence at the table. Alessandro immediately understood the situation and smoothly stepped in before the atmosphere became uncomfortable. "So Adrian," Alessandro said, changing the topic professionally, "about the Genoa port expansion timeline..." The conversation immediately shifted back to business — contracts, timelines, logistics, investment shares. The tension slowly dissolved into business talk again.

But Kiara... She was amused. Very amused. She took a sip of her juice and slightly smirked.

So Mr. Donato Romano gets jealous too, she thought.

While everyone at the table was busy talking business again, Kiara's eyes slowly moved across the hall.

And once again... She found Vittoria. Standing a few steps away. Looking directly at Donato. Not even trying to hide it properly now. Kiara narrowed her eyes slightly. Under her breath she muttered very quietly, "This bitch..."

She looked back at the table. Everyone was busy — Alessandro and Adrian discussing something seriously, Donato listening, Enzo talking to someone who had joined them.

No one was paying attention to her. So she calmly placed her glass on the table, stood up gracefully, and walked toward Vittoria.

Vittoria saw her coming and immediately straightened her posture and put on a polite smile. "Mrs. Romano," Vittoria said sweetly. "Are you enjoying the evening?"

Kiara smiled back politely. "Yes, very much," she said calmly. "Especially the part where people try very hard to look at things that don't belong to them."

Vittoria's smile froze for a fraction of a second. "I'm sorry?" Vittoria said politely.

Kiara stepped a little closer, still smiling — elegant, calm, perfectly mannered. "You are very intelligent, Ms. Moretti," Kiara said softly. "I don't think I need to explain simple sentences."

Vittoria also smiled back now, but her eyes had changed. "You are misunderstanding," Vittoria said. "I was just looking around."

"Of course," Kiara said. "And somehow your 'looking around' always stops at my husband."

Silence. Both women were smiling. But the air between them was sharp.

"Donato Romano is a very influential man," Vittoria said calmly. "Many people look at him."

Kiara nodded slowly. "Yes," she said. "People look at powerful men. That is normal." Then she leaned slightly closer and spoke very softly, still smiling like they were having a friendly conversation.

"But smart women," Kiara said quietly, "don't look at married powerful men like that. Especially when their wives are standing right there."

Vittoria's smile faded slightly.

Kiara continued, her voice still calm, polite, almost gentle — but every word was a warning. "I am not insecure, Ms. Moretti," Kiara said. "And I am not the jealous type either." Then she paused for a second.

"But I am very possessive."

Vittoria didn't speak now.

Kiara straightened slightly and continued in the same polite tone. "You are a CEO. A successful woman. You should focus on your company, your deals, your growth."

Then she smiled again. "And leave Romano assets to Romano family." That sentence landed exactly how Kiara wanted.

Vittoria looked directly into Kiara's eyes now.
"Are you threatening me, Mrs. Romano?" Vittoria asked calmly.

Kiara smiled softly. "No," she said. "I am educating you." Then she added one last line, very quietly. "You can look at the sun, Ms. Moretti. But if you try to touch it, you will burn."

Kiara then stepped back slightly, her polite smile returning fully. "Enjoy the evening," she said gracefully, and then she turned and walked back toward her table like nothing had happened.

Across the hall, Enzo had seen Kiara walk toward Vittoria and then come back. He looked at Donato and said quietly, "Your wife just went to war in heels." Donato looked at Kiara returning calmly to the table.

_____

The dinner was slowly coming to an end. People were finishing their drinks, final conversations were happening, business cards were exchanged, and quiet deals were being sealed with handshakes and polite smiles.

The Romanos were preparing to leave. Alessandro and Aravi were talking to the De Luca family one last time. Enzo was standing a little away, finishing a call. The hall was still bright, still loud, still full of powerful people — but for Kiara, the night already felt long.
She was standing near one of the large glass windows, looking outside at the city lights of Italy. From the top floor of the hotel, the city looked calm, peaceful, almost innocent.
Very different from the world inside the hall.
"You disappeared," Donato's voice came from behind her.
She didn't turn immediately. "I am right here."
He came and stood beside her, both of them looking outside at the city lights. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Then Donato said quietly, "I heard you went to talk to Vittoria."
Kiara slowly turned her head and looked at him. "News travels fast."
"I am Donato Romano," he said calmly. "Everything travels fast to me."
She looked at him for a moment, then asked, "Are you angry?"
"No," he said. "Should I be?"
"I may have threatened your business partner's daughter," she said very calmly.
He looked at her for a few seconds. Then he asked, "Did she deserve it?"
Kiara didn't answer immediately. "She was looking at what belongs to me," she said finally.
Donato stared at her. Then suddenly he laughed softly and shook his head. "You are unbelievable," he said.
"Is that a problem?" she asked.
"No," he replied. "That is the reason I married you."
She looked away again toward the city lights. After a moment, she spoke quietly, "When you were on stage today... everyone was looking at you like you own the world."
He didn't reply. "And I was sitting there thinking..." she continued, "that the world may belong to Donato Romano..." Then she finally looked at him. "But Donato Romano belongs to me."
He looked at her. Long silence. Then he stepped closer to her, very close, and said in a low voice, "You have no idea how dangerous it is to say something like that to a man like me."
She didn't move. "Why?" she asked softly.

"Because," he said, looking straight into her eyes, "I might actually like it." For a moment, neither of them moved. The noise of the party faded into the background. City lights outside. Soft music inside. Two dangerous people standing very close.

Then Enzo's voice came from behind them. "If you two are done staring at each other like a movie scene, we should leave. Uncle is already waiting."
They both stepped slightly apart. Kiara looked down to hide her smile. Donato cleared his throat slightly and turned. "Let's go," he said.
As they walked toward the exit together, Kiara slipped her hand into Donato's hand. He looked at her. She didn't look at him, just said quietly, "Tonight was successful."
"Business wise?" he asked.
She shook her head slightly. "No," she said. "Wife wise."
He almost smiled. And that was how the night ended. Not with a business deal. Not with a speech. But with a silent war, quiet jealousy, unspoken promises, and a husband and wife walking out together like they owned not just the business world—
But each other.
Thank you for reading.
please like and comment if you like the chapter.
bye bye take care.