The GALA II

Chapter 4

While listening to my brothers' stories and enjoying our reunion, my eyes were drawn to a familiar silhouette: a tall, well-built man dressed in a midnight-blue Tom Ford suit, wearing a crisp white shirt with custom white-gold buttons and cufflinks bearing the Moretti family crest. He moved with agile grace, reaching our table in seconds. He bowed politely to my father in greeting, then shook hands with my brothers. They were close friends and former university classmates… but when invited to sit with us, he turned to me, bowed slightly, requested my hand, and asked me to dance.

At that exact moment, the orchestra struck up a new waltz. I glanced at my father, who offered a subtle nod and a faint smile at the corner of his lips. I stood up, and as I took my first step, Dante gently placed his hand on my waist, guiding me toward the dance floor where several couples were already dancing.

When he held me in his arms and we began to move, I felt as though we had known each other forever. Our steps were in perfect harmony; his broad, warm hands were firm, yet soft and protective as they supported me. He twirled me, held me close, and carried me across the floor with incredible precision and determination. I felt safe, supported—in his arms, I felt like a different woman, the woman I had wanted to be years ago before losing myself along the way.

A sudden sting filled my eyes, and a single tear slipped down my cheek. Dante held me gently against his chest, leaned down, and kissed the tear away.

"That's it, Cara mia. It's over. I will never let anything happen to you again. No matter what you decide, I will be right beside you, and I will protect you always, Amore Mio!"

I lived a dream until the waltz came to an end—a dream every girl, every woman carries, desires, and imagines. I was living it in reality, unable to fully believe it. I looked at the man sweeping me across the floor with the ease and poise of someone who knows exactly what comes next and can master whatever follows. My head was spinning… yet I was so happy! I surrendered to his strong arms as he lifted me, set me down softly, spun me once, twice, three times… spinning until I felt dizzy, almost intoxicated. Realizing what was happening, he pulled me flush against him, grounding me with safety… until the waltz concluded.

He bowed and politely kissed my hand, then placed his hand at the small of my back to guide me back to our table. At that moment, thunderous applause erupted across the hall. I lifted my head and looked around. We were the only ones left on the floor. We had put on a breathtaking show, dancing completely absorbed in one another while the other couples had quietly stepped to the edges of the room.

In a far corner, Adrian stood deathly pale, staring at me in utter shock. His lips trembled, his eyes wide with disbelief, yet he couldn't utter a word.

From the balcony above, obsidian eyes watched me hypnotically, almost crushing me under their weight.

At a nearby table, another man watched us in astonishment, his face just as pale: Troy Hamilton. Regret was etched clearly across his features. He clenched his fists on the table and held his breath.

He couldn't have competed anyway, I thought to myself, instantly feeling embarrassed by the thought.

Was I actually falling in love? No. It couldn't be. Not this fast after… No. I didn't think it was possible. Yet what I felt in this man's arms was unlike anything I had ever felt before, starting from the moment his arms barely touched me outside the hospital.

Back at the table, Dante was seated next to me. The rest of the evening passed like a dream; I was wrapped in the love of my brothers and father, as well as Dante's impeccably polite attention.

I was introduced to several business partners and danced with my father and brothers, though I teased them that life was short and they should focus on other priorities tonight—who knows, maybe they'd find their match. They laughed, and all three assured me they were at a point where they could afford to be extremely selective with all the offers coming their way. But since most of those offers were purely opportunistic, they preferred to wait.

While talking, I felt that piercing gaze from the balcony watching me again. Dante caught my expression, excused himself, and stepped away hurriedly. He returned a short while later. On the surface, he seemed unchanged, but I sensed he was tense, cautious, and vigilant where I was concerned. We didn't mention it.

The gala was, as always, a resounding success. The next day, every news outlet and television station covered it as the grandest and most sophisticated event of the year.

And so life returned to its usual whirlwind. Meetings, partnerships, contracts…

Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, followed. I checked the security footage from the venue where the gala took place, but found nothing unusual. I thought about hiring a private investigator to look into it. But what if it was all in my head? I decided to wait a little to be sure. Still, the feeling of being watched persisted every time I entered or left the company's underground parking garage. Even inside my car, I felt something was wrong. That's it—no more waiting. Tomorrow, I'm calling a detective.

Today, a terrible migraine is crushing me. I take a painkiller and rest my head on my arm against the desk. I close my eyes, thinking about heading home. But the throbbing pain is so intense that I decide to wait until it subsides before leaving.

My secretary announces that Dante has arrived and is waiting. I raise my head, and just as I am about to respond, my phone buzzes with a text from an unknown number:

" I think the migraine tormenting you is just the beginning. Your cure is with me. I'll be taking care of that soon. You are mine alone. And you WILL be mine alone! "

As I read it, the ground seems to give way beneath me. I look around my office in terror, turning pale as my hand instinctively flies to my temple… At that moment, Dante steps into the office and stops cold at the sight of me. Sensing my panic, he rushes straight over.

"What happened?"

With a trembling hand, I hold up the phone to show him the message. He immediately pulls out his own phone and calls his assistant. Within minutes, my office is searched, and they discover a hidden camera, tracing its IP address. I left them to handle it and tried to go home. I felt like my legs could no longer hold me, my head was pounding, and all I wanted was to get home.

I pushed myself up from my chair, and the entire room began to spin…

Stay tuned! I'll be back in 2 days. Can't wait to share more with you! I write for you!