Dinner With the Sanchese

The soft hum of conversation filled the grand living room. The chandeliers glowed warmly, scattering light across polished marble floors. The air carried the scent of expensive perfume and roasted beef and a tension that felt almost tangible.

Then came the faint sound of heels against the staircase.

Everyone turned.

Cynthia was descending slowly, her hand gliding along the banister. The pale blue gown hugged her gently, shimmering under the golden light like water catching fire. Her hair, softly curled, framed her face perfectly, and her diamond earrings caught the light with every graceful step.

It wasn’t just elegance, it was poise, quiet power, a kind of beauty that didn’t demand attention but commanded it.

For a heartbeat, the entire room fell silent.

Even Xavier, who had been leaning casually against the couch armrest, straightened slightly. His gaze locked on her. He’d seen her before at school, at events but this was different. There was something unsettlingly captivating about her tonight.

His mother smiled approvingly. “You look stunning, dear,” Mrs. Sanchese said, her voice smooth and refined.

Cynthia managed a polite smile. “Thank you.”

Her mother’s eyes glowed with satisfaction. “Come, darling,” she said, gesturing her closer. “You know the Sanchese family.”

Cynthia moved forward, her every step deliberate, steady even though her pulse was racing.

Mr. Sanchese stood and extended his hand warmly. “Cynthia Hale. You’ve grown into quite the young lady. Your parents must be proud.”

“We are,” her mother replied for her, a little too quickly.

Mrs. Sanchese, her eyes glimmering with grace and calculation, motioned toward a velvet box resting on the table. “Before we begin dinner, my dear, I brought you something special.”

Cynthia blinked, surprised. “For me?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Sanchese said, lifting the box and handing it to her. “A small token of welcome you’ll be part of our family soon.

Cynthia hesitated before opening it. Inside, nestled in cream silk, was a delicate diamond bracelet thin but dazzling, the kind of thing that whispered wealth without needing to speak.

“It’s beautiful,” Cynthia murmured, running her fingers over the tiny stones.

“I’m glad you like it,” Mrs. Sanchese said warmly. “It belonged to my grandmother. She wore it at her engagement dinner. I thought it fitting that you wear it at yours, someday.”

Her voice was kind, but her eyes said something else something that made Cynthia’s throat tighten.

“Thank you,” Cynthia managed softly.

Her mother’s smile widened, clearly pleased by the symbolism. Xavier’s gaze flicked toward the bracelet for a second, then back to Cynthia’s face.

---

They moved to the dining table, long and perfectly set, every plate gleaming, every glass crystal-clear. The servants poured wine and served dishes as polite conversation filled the air elegant, practiced, and full of hidden meanings.

At one point, Mrs. Hale turned to her daughter with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Cynthia dear, Xavier will be heading the new branch of his father’s company soon. Isn’t that impressive?”

Cynthia forced a small nod. “Yes, it is.”

Xavier leaned slightly forward, his tone smooth but confident. “And she’ll be joining me for some of the events, I believe?”

Cynthia blinked. “I...I wasn’t aware of that.”

His lips curved into a faint smirk. “Consider it an early introduction to our… partnership.”

---

After dinner, as the adults moved to the sitting room for dessert, Xavier lingered behind, still seated at the table.

Cynthia rose to follow her parents, but his voice stopped her.

“You clean up well,” he said quietly.

She turned slightly, eyes narrowing. “Excuse me?”

He met her gaze with that same lazy confidence. “At school, you blend in. Tonight, though… you don’t.”

Her jaw tightened. “I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.”

“Good,” he said, leaning back. “Because you didn’t have to.”

Before she could respond, his mother’s voice floated from the other room. “Xavier, darling, come join us.”

He stood, giving her one last unreadable look before walking away.

Her fingers brushed the new bracelet, the diamonds cool against her skin. “A gift or a chain?” she whispered to herself.

As Xavier turned to leave, Mrs. Sanchese’s graceful voice cut through the chatter from the sitting room.

“Actually,” she said, smiling pleasantly, “before dessert, why don’t you two take a little walk outside? It’s such a lovely evening. I think you both deserve a bit of quiet… to get to know each other better.”

Cynthia’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s not necessary”

“Nonsense,” her mother interrupted smoothly, rising from her chair. “It’s a wonderful idea. The gardens look beautiful under the lights.”

Xavier’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he nodded politely. “Of course.”

For a while, they walked in silence. Xavier’s hands were in his pockets, his stride easy, confident. Cynthia’s heels clicked softly against the cobblestones as she tried to maintain her composure.

Finally, she broke the silence. “You don’t have to pretend to enjoy this, you know.”

He glanced sideways at her. “Who says I’m pretending?”

She gave a small, humorless laugh. “You didn’t look thrilled back there.”

He smirked faintly. “Neither did you.”

“Because I’m not,” she said sharply, then sighed. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”

He stopped walking and turned to face her, his expression unreadable in the garden light. “You think I did?"

She blinked. “You mean you’re not okay with this either?”

He looked away, eyes tracing the roses. “Our parents live in a world where ‘choice’ doesn’t mean much. I’ve learned to just… go along with it.”

Cynthia:

“So you’ll just let them decide who you marry?” she asked softly.

His eyes met hers again. “I didn’t say I’d let them. I just don’t plan to start a war I can’t win.”

Cynthia crossed her arms. “Maybe some wars are worth fighting.”

A corner of his mouth twitched almost a smile, but not quite. “Maybe. But not tonight.”

Xavier’s gaze lingered a second too long before he looked away. “You should head back inside,” he said quietly. “It’s getting cold.”

She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself. “Yeah.”

As they turned toward the house, Cynthia risked one last glance at him. His face was calm again, perfectly guarded. But that flicker of honesty that single, unguarded moment stayed with her long after they went back inside.

Inside, their parents smiled as if everything was falling neatly into place.