I turned and looked at her fully, letting my eyes roam up and down her body before downing the rest of my drink.
Her skin flushed with anger as I smirked and walked away.
I should feel confident in my assertion that Elio wouldn’t give Chiara the time of day, but while I had put on a brave face, the truth was, I didn’t know.
It wasn’t like Elio and I had the kind of relationship where he would just tell me if he was interested in a girl. And Chiara was beautiful. I placed the glass down on a server’s tray, then headed to the bathroom. Thankfully, no one was in there with me, and I took the moment for myself, taking in my reflection in the mirror.
While I wouldn’t say I was normally a happy person, there was just something different about these past couple of months that had made me feel almost crippled with anxiety and sadness. It was like a dark and heavy feeling pressing down on me, with nowhere to escape.
The fact that an engagement proposal might be presented to Elio was something else entirely.
Even if I had tried so hard to get over my feelings for Elio, they were still very much around. I didn’t know how to get rid of them.
I took a few deep breaths before I left the bathroom, knowing Valentino would come looking for me if he didn’t see me soon.
I returned to the room filled with people and tried to pretend everything was fine.
I went back to my small corner to people-watch. Thankfully, Chiara wasn’t there.
My eyes found Massimo and Luna right away. While Massimo still kept his mask on, I thought I saw a small glimmer in his eyes whenever he looked at his wife. Luna, for her part, wasn’t as good at keeping her face from showing too much. It was clear to anyone with eyes that she was completely and hopelessly in love with her husband.
I smiled a little as I watched them, even if I could feel a pang in my chest.
I wanted what they had. I wanted someone to be by my side and protect me. Valentino didn’t count. Not in that way. He had his own life to live, and it wasn’t like I could expect him to always be by my side.
Besides, I wanted that connection that went beyond any other relationship out there.
My eyes moved around on their own accord, looking for Elio, even as I told myself I shouldn’t. I really wished I hadn’t when I found him a few seconds later, standing next to… Chiara.
They were talking, with his head bent low so he could hear her. I wanted to look away. It almost felt like I was intruding on their moment. The pang in my heart grew until it was no longer a pang but an ache that was making it a little hard to breathe.
I rubbed at my chest, then turned and walked out of there, no longer wanting to see any more.
I made my way out to the small balcony just outside the ballroom, pulling up short when I noticed someone standing there already.
He turned to me. I didn’t recognize him, but I assumed he was a made man by the way he was carrying himself. He was tall and attractive, with curly black hair, olive skin, and dark-brown eyes surrounded by thick, dark eyelashes. He was… pretty. And he looked to be about my age, if not a few years older.
“Sorry, I didn’t know anyone was out here.”
I was about to walk away when he spoke. “Wait. You don’t have to leave. There’s no reason why we can’t share the space.”
I turned around and looked at him, and he offered me a charming smile. I couldn’t help but smile back, slowly walking toward the railing. The balcony faced a small garden at the back of the hotel. With enough lighting, it was easy for me to see the well-designed landscape. I kept my distance from the man.
“My name is Nico, by the way.”
I glanced sideways at him. “Isa.”
“Isa,” he repeated. His voice was deep and dark, reminding me of those singers from back in the day. It was… nice. “A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”
I smiled shyly at him. I couldn’t even remember the last time someone had called me beautiful and sounded like they meant it.
“Thank you.”
“So tell me, Isa. Who are you hiding from?”
“What makes you think I’m hiding from anyone?” I asked lightly.
“Because you’re out here with me.”
