Sienna POV
For a moment after Adrian’s words, the range went quiet.
He’d met me two or three times.
How could he have developed an interest that fast?
The thought was ridiculous.
And with the two of them at odds, saying it in front of Luca looked more like provocation than a serious advance.
I glanced at Luca.
He stood to one side, the towel still in his grip, his face empty.
I knew too well what that stillness meant.
Before I could breathe out, Luca spoke.
“You’re joking.”
”I never joke about this sort of thing.” Adrian looked at him, something almost amused in his voice.
“What, Luca — not even an assistant is off-limits?”
I didn’t cut in.
I stood aside.
Adrian had no intention of letting it go.
His eyes rested on me.
“Though there is one thing I can’t work out. You already have a fiancée. Why do you keep looking at other women?”
Luca set the towel down, still cold.
“You’re reading too much into it. Sienna is my assistant, and my business isn’t your concern.”
”Of course it isn’t.” Adrian gave a soft laugh, careless on the surface, pointed underneath.
“Just a reminder — since you have a fiancée of your own, don’t go wanting everything.”
The air between them pulled tight.
Bellini cut in.
“Enough. We’re all on the same side here. What are you fighting for? That’s the end of it for today.”
On the drive back I watched Luca’s face.
His mood was ugly.
But that wasn’t necessarily bad.
My room was next to his.
The moment the door shut, I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my face to his back.
“Are you angry?”
He didn’t answer.
I tightened my arms and explained first.
“At the range, I could have refused Adrian. I didn’t think it through. If it made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry.”
Luca turned and looked down at me, close enough that I could see the cold still in his eyes, though his voice stayed level.
“You don’t have to act in front of me.”
He smoothed the hair I’d messed up, the gesture gentle, the tone without warmth.
“I know exactly what kind of person you are. And I know exactly what kind of person Adrian is. Don’t try to be clever in front of me, and don’t think you can play both sides.”
I felt the warning and didn’t back away.
If the lie was already suspected, the performance had to be better. Get faster updates on g.com.
Feeling was like that anyway — no clean way to separate what was real from what was just a means to an end.
I knew what I had to do.
I let go of his waist, hooked a finger into his loosened tie and tugged his head down, then rose on my toes and kissed him, drawing back at once, my nose still against his.
“Luca, you’re wronging me.”
My fingers stayed wound in his tie, turning once around.
“Playing both sides? From beginning to end, there’s only ever been you.”
He said nothing.
I met his eyes, my hand drifting across his collar, my voice dropping.
“I like you, Luca.”
I moved closer, as though afraid he hadn’t heard.
“A lot. A great deal.”
I took his hand and laid it flat against my chest so he could feel the heartbeat quickening under his palm.
“Do you believe me now?”
His fingers tightened, but he didn’t carry it further.
He looked at me a few seconds, then withdrew his hand, and his eyes settled.
“Is that so? Then do something for me, and I’ll believe it.”
I faltered.
He sat on the sofa and looked up at me.
“The port project is still in play. If you can put together a proposal that satisfies Bellini and makes him choose Hawthorne, I’ll let this go.”
I understood him at once.
“All right. I’ll do it.”
For the next week I spent every hour on the proposal.
Bellini’s project covered the future operation of the harbor district and how its resources would be divided — on the surface a commercial partnership, underneath it the interests of several powers.
I made it as steady and attractive as I could.
Just as it was about to go in, Adrian pulled out of the running.
It wasn’t what I’d expected, but it removed a layer of trouble.
With the Morettis out of the way, Bellini decided quickly.
He read my proposal, was satisfied, and signed the Hawthorne agreement in front of us.
Just like that, it was settled.
On the flight back from New York to Los Angeles, Luca was lighter.
After we landed he asked, unusually, where I lived — he’d drive me home himself.
I gave him the address.
The driver followed the navigation, and the neighborhoods grew shabbier until the car stopped near a stretch of old town.
Cars lined the narrow street; a bar still lit, music and voices carrying across the road.
I unfastened my seat belt. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Thank you for the ride.”
I was about to get out when Luca glanced out the window.
“This is it?”
I followed his gaze and smiled.
“Yes. I live here.”
He still didn’t take it in.
I had one foot on the pavement when he spoke again.
“Not going to invite me up?”
I looked back and hesitated.
“The place is small, and it’s a bit of a mess. You might not be used to it.”
Luca lifted a brow.
“Or is there another man in your room?”
I laughed.
“Unless he’s as handsome as you, I wouldn’t bother.”
He said nothing else.
We got out together.
The stairwell was narrower than it looked, yellow light on flaking walls, the air mixed with alcohol and damp.
We’d barely reached the second floor when a drunk man lurched into us.
Before I could react, Luca put himself in front of me.
The man nearly collided with him, looked up, decided he couldn’t handle what he saw, muttered, and went off along the wall.
I watched Luca lower his arm and laughed.
“Why so tense? It’s always like this here.”
He turned to me, frowning.
“Why do you live in a place like this?”
”Because it’s cheap.”
”You’re short of money?”
I blinked at him on purpose.
“I am. I still owe a certain someone a hundred and twenty million. Or would you like to support me?”
Luca didn’t take it up.
I took out my key and opened the door.
The room was small but tidy, its furniture plain, nothing like Luca’s.
I set my bag down.
“Sit down. I’ll get you some water.”
I went into the kitchen, and when I came back with the glass my steps stopped.
Luca stood by the sofa with the men’s jacket that had been draped over it in his hand.
In his other hand, a black business card.
No. My heart dropped as if the floor had gone with it.
I knew that card too well.
Adrian Moretti.
I stood there with the water in my hands, and Luca raised his eyes to me.