Chapter 19
Chapter 19
The sun had set, leaving behind a velvet darkness. I stood in front of my mirror, smoothing down the black silk dress that hugged my frame. The fabric whispered against my skin as I adjusted the delicate gold necklace at my throat.
A knock at my door. Three precise taps.
“Come in,” I called, my heart picking up. speed.
Adrian stepped inside, and my breath caught. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean frame. The dim lighting cast shadows across his sharp features, making him look dangerous and irresistible.
His gray eyes swept over me, darkening as they traced the curve of my waist, the slit that revealed a glimpse of leg. “You look stunning.” His voice dropped lower, rougher.
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“You clean up pretty well yourself.” I meant it to sound teasing, but my words came out.
breathless.
He crossed the room in slow, deliberate steps. The air between us crackled with electricity. His fingers brushed my bare shoulder, leaving a trail of fire in their
wake.
“Asteria…” The way he said my name made my knees weak for some reason. He leaned closer, his breath warm against my neck.
A car horn blared outside, shattering the
moment.
We both froze, then turned toward the window. The sound of tires on gravel drifted up from the driveway.
“Vincent,” Adrian murmured, though his hand remained on my shoulder.
I met his gaze in the mirror, saw the same frustrated desire I felt reflected in his eyes. The horn sounded again, more insistent this time.
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I stepped back from Adrian, my heart hammering against my ribs. What the hell was that? What was I doing? That electricity between us, the way his touch had set my skin on fire – I couldn’t afford these distractions. Not now. Not with everything at stake.
My fingers trembled as I smoothed my dress again, more to keep my hands busy than from any real need. The memory of his closeness lingered like a ghost of warmth against my skin.
“We should head down.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “Vincent isn’t known for his patience.”
Adrian’s expression shifted, that dangerous heat replaced by the cool mask of professionalism I’d come to know. He adjusted his cuffs.
“Of course.” He stepped back, creating necessary distance between us. “This dinner is crucial.”
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I caught my reflection one last time. The woman staring back looked composed, elegant–nothing like the mess of
confusion churning inside me. I had to get
it together. Vincent Castellano wasn’t just any dinner guest. His support could change everything.
I couldn’t let whatever this thing was with Adrian cloud my judgment. The heat, the tension, the way my body responded to his presence – it all had to wait. I’d built my plans too carefully to risk them crumbling now because I couldn’t control my attraction to a man who somehow seemed as dangerous as he was compelling.
“Let’s go.” I moved toward the door, my heels clicking against the hardwood floor. Each step helped ground me, remind me of
my purpose.
Adrian nodded, all business now. He opened the door, gesturing for me to go first. As I passed him, I caught a trace of his cologne. I forced myself to keep
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walking, to focus on the evening ahead.
The sound of another car horn cut through the air. Vincent was waiting.
My father’s voice carried from the foyer as Adrian and I descended the grand staircase. “Vincent, welcome to our home.”
Vincent Castellano stood in his signature tailored Italian suit, radiating power and old–world sophistication. Four men in dark suits flanked him, their eyes scanning every corner of the entrance hall. My father’s security detail mirrored them from the opposite side.
“Marcus, the pleasure is mine.” Vincent’s weathered face creased into a warm smile as he clasped my father’s hand.
I reached the bottom step, Adrian close behind me. Vincent’s gaze shifted to us, those keen eyes missing nothing. “Asteria, you’re a vision.” He stepped forward and took my offered hand, pressing a gentlemanly kiss to my knuckles.
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“Mr. Castellano, thank you for joining us tonight.”
His attention moved to Adrian. “And Mr. Constantine. Your reputation in the art world precedes you.”
Adrian gave a modest nod. “You honor us with your presence, sir.”
“The dining room is prepared,” I gestured toward the east wing. “Please, follow me.”
The grand table stretched beneath crystal chandeliers, fine china gleaming against. dark mahogany. Silver candlesticks cast dancing shadows across place settings that had taken hours to perfect. Vincent’s security positioned themselves along the walls as we showed him to his seat at my father’s right hand.
Adrian pulled out my chair across from Vincent, his fingers brushing my shoulder as he helped me sit. The touch sent electricity down my spine, but I kept my expression neutral. Tonight wasn’t about
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the growing tension between us. It was
about Vincent Castellano and what his
support could mean for our future.
The sound of another engine rumbled up the driveway. I caught Adrian’s eye across the table – we both knew who it was. My fingers tightened around my wine glass as the front door opened.
“Primo.”
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