It was supposed to be a peaceful day. For once. Enzo sat in a quiet corner of the café, a file open in front of him, his attention fixed on the pages-but not completely. His mind drifted in and out of focus, trying to stay on work, trying to ignore the constant noise that had followed him for days.

He could have worked at the office. He should have been at the office. But home had become unbearable. Ever since he had clearly told his mother that he had no interest in meeting Lia again- There had been no peace. Questions. Persuasion. Endless insistence.

"She is a good girl, Enzo." "She belongs to a respectable family." "At least try." He had ignored it. But ignoring didn't stop it. Every conversation somehow circled back to her. Every moment at home felt like a trap. So he had escaped. To this café. To silence. To control. Or at least- That's what he thought.

"Oh my God, Enzo-you're here!"

The loud, overly excited voice shattered his peace instantly. Enzo closed his eyes for a second, his grip tightening slightly on the file. "...God," he muttered under his breath, "can't I have one minute of peace in my life?" He didn't even need to look up. He already knew.

Lia.

She walked straight toward him, smiling brightly, as if she had just found something she had been searching for. And before he could say anything- She sat down right beside him. Too close. "Enzo, why didn't you reply to my messages?" she asked quickly. "You didn't meet me after our dinner date... did I do something wrong?"

Enzo inhaled slowly, forcing patience. "It's nothing," he said flatly. "I was busy."

"Oh..." she nodded, but didn't stop. "But you should at least call once. We should meet somewhere nice, spend time-you know, it will help before marriage... to understand each other better."

That was it. Enzo closed the file slowly. Placed it on the table. Then turned toward her. His expression had changed. No softness. No politeness. Just clarity. "Listen, Miss Lia," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I'll be clear." She blinked slightly. "I didn't reply because I didn't want to," he continued. "I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to meet you." A pause. "And there is no marriage. I don't want to marry you." The words landed like a slap.

Lia froze. Her smile disappeared instantly. "W-what...?" she stammered. "What are you saying, Enzo? Our mothers fixed everything... how can you say you don't want to marry me?" Her voice trembled now. "Did I do something wrong? Please tell me..."

For a second- Enzo almost felt tired. Not guilty. Just tired. "There's nothing wrong," he said shortly. "I just don't want this." And with that- He stood up abruptly. "Excuse me. I have to leave." But before he could take a step-

Lia stood up quickly and grabbed him. Then- Without warning- She hugged him tightly. "Please, Enzo..." her voice broke. "Don't do this. We can make it work. I really like you. If I did something wrong, I'll fix it... please..."

Enzo stiffened. His hands didn't move to hold her. Instead- He pulled back, trying to detach himself. "There's nothing to fix, Lia," he said, pushing her away slightly. "I just don't want to marry you. And I don't want to meet again. Please... don't follow me."

But she didn't listen. Not at all. instead- She stepped forward again. And before he could react- She kissed him. For a second- Enzo froze. Completely. Shock. Disbelief. His mind went blank. And then- A sound.

Something falling. Sharp. Loud enough to cut through everything. Enzo's head snapped toward the direction instinctively. And his entire body went still. Standing there- A few steps away-

Was Elana. Her books lay scattered on the floor near her feet. Her eyes- Wide. Shocked. Hurt. Unbelieving. For a second- No one moved. No one spoke. Time itself felt frozen.

"No..." Enzo whispered under his breath, his heart dropping. "No, no, no..." He pushed Lia away instantly, like she had burned him. "Elana-" But before he could say anything- She turned. And ran. "ELANA!" he called out, panic rising in his voice.

He moved immediately, trying to go after her-But Lia grabbed his hand again. "Enzo, please don't go-" That was the last straw. Enzo yanked his hand away sharply. "Let go!" he snapped, his voice filled with frustration and urgency.

He didn't even look back at her. Didn't care that she was crying. Didn't care about anything. Except one thing- Elana. And without wasting another second- He ran after her. Leaving everything else behind.

___

Elana ran. She didn't know where she was going-only that she had to get away. Away from that café. Away from that moment. Away from him. Her footsteps were uneven, her breath shaky, her vision blurred-not because she couldn't see the road, but because tears kept filling her eyes faster than she could blink them away.

Her heart felt like it was being crushed inside her chest. She had come there for something important. For closure. For an answer. For Nico. Today, she had decided she would finally tell him the truth. That she couldn't go on a date with him. Because somewhere deep inside her- There was someone else. Enzo.

After that day... after that conversation with enzo... after the way he had stopped her from moving on- " if i say.."Don't move on...then.?" Those words had stayed with her. Echoing. Giving her hope. A foolish, fragile hope. Maybe... just maybe... There was something on his side too. Maybe he just didn't realize it yet. Maybe he needed time. Maybe-

Her thoughts shattered violently. The image replayed in her mind. Enzo. And that girl. Kissing. Not resisting. Not stopping. Just- There. Her chest tightened painfully. "No..." she whispered to herself while running, her voice breaking. "He doesn't... he doesn't have feelings for me..."

Tears rolled down her cheeks freely now. "Why did I even think that..." She finally slowed down when she reached the street outside the café. Her steps faltered. Then stopped. She bent slightly, placing a hand on her chest, trying to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. But it didn't help.

Because the pain wasn't in her lungs- It was in her heart. Her phone started ringing. The sound felt distant at first. Then louder. She blinked quickly, wiping her tears with trembling fingers before looking at the screen. Nico. For a moment- She just stared at it. Then picked up the call.

"H-hello..."

"Hey, I'm at the café," Nico's voice came, casual, unaware. "Where are you?"

Elana didn't reply immediately. Her throat tightened. Her mind raced. This was the moment. The answer she had come here to give. But everything had changed now. Completely.

"Nico..." she said softly.

"Yes?"

"You wanted my answer, right?"

A small pause. "Yeah... I did."

She closed her eyes for a second. Took a deep breath. And said- "Okay. My answer is yes."

Silence. Then suddenly- "Really?!" Nico's voice lifted with excitement.

"Yes," she replied, her voice calmer now... almost too calm. "Let's go on a date."

"Wow, Elana-that's great! I-"

"Let's meet this Sunday," she interrupted gently. "Somewhere nice. You decide the place."

"Of course! That's perfect-"lets meet in caffe and decide-

"Not today," she added quickly. "I'm not feeling well. I'll go home." Her voice didn't reveal anything. Not the tears. Not the pain.

"Okay... take care," Nico said, still happy.

"Hmm."

The call ended. Elana lowered the phone slowly. Her hand dropped to her side. For a moment- She just stood there. Silent. Still. Then she wiped her face again, more firmly this time. As if erasing every trace of what just happened. "Move on..." she whispered to herself.

She raised her hand and stopped a taxi. It pulled over. She got inside without looking back. "Drive," she said quietly. And the car moved- Taking her away.
___

Back at the café- Enzo was running. Not walking. Not searching calmly. Running. His eyes scanned every direction, every street, every corner. "Elana!" he called out again. But there was no answer. Only the noise of the city. His breathing had turned heavy. Not from exhaustion-

But from panic. Because he knew. He knew what she had seen. And worse- He knew what it must have looked like. "Damn it..." he muttered, running a hand through his hair. His chest felt tight. His thoughts chaotic. "She's not picking up..." he said under his breath after trying to call her again. Call rejected. Again. And again.

"She blocked me...again?" he realized, his voice dropping. For a moment- He stopped moving. Standing in the middle of the street. Looking around- But she was nowhere. Gone. And this time- Not just physically. Something inside him felt... off. Unsettled.

Like he had just lost something- Something he didn't even fully understand yet. Enzo clenched his jaw, frustration and something deeper mixing inside him. "Elana..." he whispered under his breath. But the city gave him no answer. Only silence- And the sinking realization that this time... He might have been too late.

___

Donato sat behind the large dark wood desk in his office, the afternoon light spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him. The entire room carried the same thing everything around him did-order, control, precision. A half-finished glass of espresso sat untouched beside him.

His attention remained fixed on the file spread open before him. The De Luca deal was progressing smoothly for once. The shipments had moved without interruption, the negotiations had been finalized, and for the first time in weeks, there were no complications from that side.

Which was exactly why the file in front of him irritated him even more. He flipped another page in the Moretti report, his expression darkening slightly. The deal between Romano Industries and Moretti Holdings had been finalized almost a month ago. It had been a simple, profitable agreement.

Romano Electronics would be installed in all Moretti-owned retail outlets and malls-security systems, smart home sections, electronic counters, display units, and customer service technology.

In return, every mall and retail chain under Moretti would begin carrying Romano products as their primary supplier-Romano Skin Care, luxury cosmetic lines, and the new Romano fashion collection. It should have been easy. Routine.

But the numbers in front of him told a different story. Only one Moretti outlet had completed installation. Two more had partially begun stocking Romano products. The rest- Nothing. No new orders. No distribution. No inventory movement.

The expansion had completely stalled. Donato shut the file with more force than necessary. "What is this?" he muttered under his breath. His jaw tightened. "Why is there still no improvement?" He pressed the intercom button on his desk.

"Send Mr. Bianchi in."

"Yes, sir," came the immediate reply.

Within less than a minute, his secretary, Mr. Bianchi, entered the office carrying a tablet and several documents. "Yes, sir?"

Donato slid the file slightly across the desk. "Mr. Bianchi," he said coldly, "why is there no progress in Moretti's work?" The secretary glanced briefly at the report. "There is only one completed outlet," Donato continued. "What about the others?" He stood from his chair and walked toward the window, speaking without turning around.

"Our agreement was very clear. Every Moretti outlet was supposed to install Romano Electronics. Every mall and retail store under their company was supposed to stock Romano Skin Care and the Romano fashion line." He turned then, his gaze sharp. "But there is no sign of that here. Only one or two outlets have our products. Why?"

Mr. Bianchi hesitated for a brief second. "Actually, sir..." he began carefully, "Miss Moretti refused to move forward."

Donato's expression hardened. "She what?"

"Miss Vittoria Moretti personally halted the process," Mr. Bianchi explained. "She said no further work would begin until she had another meeting with you she refused to attain meetings with manager and team. she said she while attain the meeting you will be personally present there."."

Donato stared at him. "We tried several times to continue through her management team," the secretary added quickly. "We contacted their operations department, legal team, even their regional managers. But Miss Moretti overruled all of them." "She stopped everything in the middle of the process."

For a moment, the room fell silent. Donato's face remained unreadable. But there was an edge in his eyes now. Cold. Annoyed. "That is completely unprofessional," he said flatly. Business was business. Personal involvement, ego, unnecessary meetings-he hated all of it. The contract had already been signed. Everything had been agreed upon. There was no reason to stop an entire project simply because she wanted another meeting.

Unless- She was doing it deliberately. Donato leaned back slightly against the desk, crossing his arms. And knowing Vittoria Moretti... She probably was. A flicker of irritation passed through him. He had spent the last two weeks avoiding her intentionally. Every time she requested a meeting, he had sent a manager instead.

Every event, every business dinner, every scheduled appearance- He had stayed away. And apparently she had finally found a way to force him into the same room. Clever. Annoying. But clever. "Fine," he said after a moment. Mr. Bianchi straightened immediately. "Schedule a meeting with Miss Vittoria Moretti."

The secretary nodded. "Yes, sir."

"And make it clear," Donato added coldly, "this is a business meeting. Nothing more."

"Understood, sir."

Mr. Bianchi left the office. The moment the door closed- Donato looked back at the Moretti file. Then at Vittoria's name printed across the front page. A faint, humorless smirk appeared on his lips. "Whatever game you're playing, Miss Moretti..." he murmured quietly, "make sure you know who you're playing it with."

____

An hour later, the atmosphere inside Romano Industries had shifted-subtle, but noticeable. Precision had turned sharper. Movement had become more controlled. Because a particular guest had arrived.

Vittoria Moretti stepped out of her car with her usual confidence-heels clicking against the polished floor, posture straight, chin slightly lifted. Her presence carried authority, elegance... and a calculated intent.

Just an hour ago, she had refused the meeting. Flatly. Her secretary had barely finished informing her about Romano Industries requesting a discussion when she had dismissed it without interest. But then- One sentence changed everything.

"Mr. Donato Romano will personally attend the meeting."

And just like that- She had agreed. Instantly. A faint, satisfied smile curved her lips as she walked through the Romano building. "So," she murmured to herself softly, "the move worked after all." Her eyes gleamed with quiet victory. "You finally called me yourself, Donato... excellent."

She adjusted her blazer slightly as she made her way toward the meeting floor, completely composed on the outside- But inwardly alert. Focused. Strategic. Because this wasn't just a business meeting for her. Not anymore.

At the same time- From the opposite corridor- Kiara walked calmly toward Donato's office. A cup of coffee rested in her hand, the light aroma trailing behind her. Her steps were unhurried, her expression soft but focused-lost in her own thoughts about work.

She had no idea what was happening upstairs. No idea about the meeting. No idea about Vittoria's arrival. Until- She saw her. Kiara slowed slightly. Her brows frowned. What is she doing here? she thought to herself.

The last time they had seen each other had been at that dinner. And even then- Something about Vittoria had felt... off. Before Kiara could move past- Vittoria stopped right in front of her. A polished smile appeared instantly on her lips. "Oh... hi, Miss-?"

"Kiara," she replied calmly. "Kiara Romano."

There was no hesitation in her tone. No softness. Just quiet confidence. Vittoria's smile widened slightly. "Oh yes... Mrs. Romano," she corrected smoothly. "How are you? We haven't seen each other since the dinner."

"I've been busy," Kiara replied simply.

No extra words. No unnecessary politeness. Vittoria's eyes flickered briefly to the coffee in Kiara's hand. Then back to her face. "Oh... I can see that," she said lightly, but there was something beneath her tone now. "Busy with... this kind of work?"

Kiara's brows pulled together slightly. "Excuse me?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.

Vittoria tilted her head just a little, her smile turning sharper-more deliberate. "Well, Mrs. Romano," she continued, her tone now openly mocking, "you'll probably stay busy with these kinds of tasks, right?" She gestured subtly toward the coffee.

"A good wife... making sure her husband is taken care of. Cooking for him, managing his needs..." A small pause. "Even here in the office... I assume you handle things like bringing him coffee, carrying files... doing the kind of work his secretary is actually paid for."

Her eyes held a clear challenge now. "But what can we say?" she added with a soft laugh. "You're a traditional wife after all. A 'perfect' one." The word perfect carried sarcasm. "You can never really stand beside him as an equal, Kiara," Vittoria continued, her voice dropping slightly. "Next to a man like Donato Romano... only a successful businesswoman can stand."

A beat. "Someone like me." Silence fell between them. For a moment- Vittoria looked completely confident. Certain. Like she had just placed Kiara exactly where she believed she belonged.

But Kiara didn't react immediately. She didn't get angry. Didn't raise her voice. Instead- She simply looked at Vittoria. Calm. Steady. Unshaken. Then- A small smile appeared on her lips. Not sweet. Not soft. Sharp. "You're right," Kiara said quietly.

Vittoria blinked slightly, not expecting that. Kiara took a small step forward, her voice still calm-but now edged with something stronger. "I am a good wife." A pause. "And I take care of my husband." Her gaze didn't waver. "But the difference between you and me, Miss Moretti..." Her smile deepened slightly. "...is that I don't need to prove my place beside him."

Vittoria's expression faltered-just for a second. Kiara continued. "I'm already standing there." Another pause. "And not because of business titles... or deals... or strategies." Her eyes sharpened slightly. "But because he chose me."

Silence. Heavy. Controlled. "And one more thing," Kiara added softly. "If bringing him coffee was the only thing I did..." She tilted her head slightly. "...you wouldn't be standing here trying so hard to replace me."

That hit. Direct. Precise. Vittoria's smile disappeared for a fraction of a second. Kiara didn't wait for a response. She simply adjusted her hold on the coffee cup- And walked past her. Gracefully. Calmly.

Leaving Vittoria standing there. Still. Silent. For the first time- Not in control of the conversation. And as Kiara walked away toward Donato's office- Vittoria slowly turned her head, watching her go. Her eyes narrowed slightly. The calm expression returned to her face.

But this time- It wasn't amused. It was calculating. Because now- She understood something clearly. Kiara Romano wasn't just a "wife." She was a problem.
___

Kiara didn't rush after that encounter. She didn't need to. Her steps remained calm, steady, echoing softly through the long marble corridor of the Romano headquarters. The coffee in her hand was still warm, but her mind was far from it now. Vittoria's words replayed once-only once-and then faded, like something too insignificant to hold space in her thoughts.

Because Kiara Romano was not someone who got shaken easily. She reached Donato's office door she didn't even bother knocking as she pushed open the door of Donato's office, stepping inside with quiet confidence-as if the entire space already belonged to her.

The soft click of her heels echoed against the polished floor, and Donato, who had been reviewing a file, immediately looked up. The moment his eyes landed on her, the tension that usually lived on his face eased, replaced by something softer... something that only existed for her.

She walked toward him, holding the cup of coffee carefully, the faint aroma filling the room. "Its you'r third coffee since morning mr," did you even realise its bad for you."she said simply, placing it in front of him.

Donato leaned back slightly in his chair, his eyes never leaving her. A slow, amused smile curved on his lips. "A multi-millionaire... personally serving coffee to her husband," he said, his tone laced with teasing admiration. "Do you even realize how rare that privilege is?"

Kiara rolled her eyes lightly, though a small smile betrayed her. "I am not a billionaire, Donato."

He stood up then, slowly, deliberately, as if closing the distance between them was the most natural thing in the world. Stopping right in front of her, he tilted his head slightly, his gaze deep and unwavering.

"Oh, darling," he murmured, his voice dropping softer, more intimate, "you are. You are my wife." "Donato Romano's wife" His fingers gently lifted her chin, making her look at him fully. "And what is mine... is yours. More than mine."

Her breath hitched slightly at the intensity in his words. "And you?" she asked quietly, her voice almost a whisper, but filled with something deeper-something claiming.

A faint smirk appeared on his lips. He leaned closer, just enough that she could feel his breath. "With all authority... and legally," he said, his voice low and certain, "I am yours."

For a moment, the world outside that room didn't exist. It was just them-the silence, the closeness, the unspoken pull that always seemed to draw them together. His hand slid to her waist, pulling her slightly closer, while her fingers instinctively gripped his shirt.

"You came all the way just to give me coffee?" he teased softly, his thumb brushing lightly against her waist.

"No," she replied, trying to sound composed, though her cheeks had turned a soft shade of red. "I came to check if you are actually working... or just pretending."

He chuckled under his breath. "You wound me, Mrs. Romano." Then leaning closer to her ear, he added in a huskier tone, "If I wasn't working... you wouldn't be standing this far from me."

Her breath caught, and she lightly pushed against his chest. "Ro..."

"What?" he asked innocently, though the mischief in his eyes said otherwise.

Before she could reply, a knock interrupted them.

Donato didn't even move his gaze from Kiara as he said, "Come in." The door opened, and his secretary stepped inside, maintaining a professional posture despite clearly sensing the atmosphere.

"Sir, Miss Vittoria Moretti has arrived for the meeting."

Donato didn't respond immediately. His eyes were still on Kiara, as if the rest of the world could wait. Then, casually, he said, "Make her sit in the meeting room." A brief pause. "Let her wait for fifteen minutes," he added calmly. "I'm busy with my wife."

Kiara's eyes widened instantly, her face turning even redder at his bluntness. "Donato-" she whispered, half embarrassed, half shocked.

The secretary nodded professionally. "Yes, sir," and left.
Donato finally pulled back slightly, though his hand still rested possessively on Kiara's waist. "Now," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "where were we?"

Kiara looked at him for a moment, her heart still racing from how easily he could pull her into his world, his pace, his emotions. "You were... pretending to work," she replied, trying to sound composed-but the softness in her voice betrayed her.

A faint smirk curved on his lips. "Pretending?" he repeated slowly, his fingers tightening just a little on her waist as he pulled her closer again. "You really think I need to pretend... when my distraction is standing right in front of me?"

Her breath hitched, and she placed her hand lightly on his chest, as if to keep some distance-but it only made things worse, because now she could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palm.

"Ro..." she warned softly, though there was no real warning in it.

He tilted his head, studying her face like she was something rare... something only he was allowed to see this closely. "You come into my office," like a boss" he murmured, "no knocking... no permission... bring me coffee with your own hands... and then expect me to behave?"

Before she could respond, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek-slow, lingering, deliberate. Kiara froze for a second, her fingers clutching his shirt slightly. "Ro..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Hm?" he hummed, already trailing another light kiss along her jaw, not rushing, not demanding-just enough to make her forget everything else.

"You said... you're busy," she tried again, though her words were losing strength.

"I am," he replied calmly, his lips brushing just near the corner of her mouth, his voice low. "Very busy."

"With what?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"With you."

And before she could react, he closed the distance and kissed her-soft at first, almost teasing, like he was testing how much she would let him take. Her hand tightened against his shirt, and for a moment she hesitated.....but only for a moment. Then she responded.

The kiss deepened slowly, not rushed, not forceful-just two people getting lost in each other in the quiet of a room that had seen far too many serious decisions and not enough moments like this. His hand moved slightly along her back, holding her close, while her other hand found his shoulder, grounding herself in him.

When they finally pulled apart, it wasn't because they wanted to-but because they had to breathe. Kiara kept her eyes closed for a second longer, her forehead resting lightly against his. "You're impossible," she whispered.

"And yet," he replied with a soft smile, brushing his thumb gently across her cheek, "you're here with me."

She opened her eyes, a small, shy smile appearing on her lips. "Sometimes I wonder why."

He leaned closer again, his voice dropping just enough to make her heart skip. "Because you love me."

Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she looked away for a second. "You're very sure of yourself."

"I am," he said simply.

She looked back at him then, her expression soft but playful. "And what if I say... I don't?"

His eyes darkened just slightly-not with anger, but with something deeper, more intense. "Then I'll make sure you remember," he murmured.

Before she could even react, he stole another quick kiss-this one shorter, teasing, leaving her slightly breathless and completely flustered. She pushed him lightly this time, though there was no real strength behind it. "Ro, stop... someone can come."

"They already did," he replied casually, clearly unbothered.

"That's not funny," she said, trying to regain her composure.

He chuckled softly, finally loosening his hold on her-but not completely letting go. "Fifteen minutes," he said, glancing briefly toward the door, then back at her. "We still have time."

Kiara's eyes widened. "You are unbelievable."

"well what can i do when my wife is this much preaty."," he shot back smoothly.

She shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "You should go to your meeting."

"I will," he said. Then, leaning closer one last time, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead-gentler this time, calmer... something that felt more like home than fire. "Stay here," he added quietly. "Or come sit inside while I finish. Your choice."

Kiara looked at him, her expression softening again. No matter how chaotic everything outside was... In moments like this, it always felt... simple.

___

Meanwhile, in the meeting room, Vittoria sat with controlled posture, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. When the message was delivered to her-that Donato Romano was busy with his wife and she would have to wait-her jaw tightened slightly. For a second, anger flashed in her eyes, sharp and burning.

But she forced a smile. "Of course," she said smoothly, masking her irritation. "I can wait." Inside, however, she was fuming. Busy... with his wife. Her nails pressed lightly against her palm as she sat there, waiting for the man she had been trying to reach for days-only to realize that someone else already held his time... his attention... and perhaps far more than that.

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