The Headlines and Scandals

When Sienna wandered down the street from her apartment, she was astounded to see Luca's face staring back at her from a magazine rack. She stopped walking so abruptly that someone behind her bumped into her and muttered angrily. But she couldn't tear her eyes away from the cover of Monaco Elite.

It was a picture of Luca stepping out of a black sports car in a perfect suit and dark sunglasses while women crowded around him. The headline underneath read:

MONACO'S MOST INFAMOUS PLAYBOY STRIKES AGAIN

Sienna stared at it for a second longer before smiling. That looked like the perfect headlines for him. She carried on toward the small café near her apartment, but curiosity kept tugging at her and by the time she sat down with her order, she'd already read three different articles about him.

According to the internet, Luca Moretti was somewhere between billionaire investor and international disaster. Articles described him as reckless, charming, and "dangerously addictive to women." One headline literally called him The Prince of Monaco's Bad Decisions.

Sienna nearly choked on her coffee laughing. There were photographs on websites across the world. Luca leaving clubs in Saint-Tropez, on yachts with models, arguing with paparazzi, kissing actresses, crashing a Ferrari into a fountain three years ago while allegedly racing another billionaire through Monaco at two in the morning.

"How are you a real person?" she muttered at her screen.

The worst part? He looked unfairly attractive in every single picture. Even blurry paparazzi shots somehow made him look like trouble wrapped in expense and wealth. But the Luca she'd met last night didn't completely match the headlines.

The man she'd spoken to on the yacht had seemed different. He was arrogant and definitely flirtatious but beneath that, there was something quieter too. Exhaustion maybe. Like he'd been performing a version of himself for so long he barely noticed anymore. Which was ridiculous. She'd known him for less than an hour.

"This is dangerous territory," she informed herself firmly.

Her phone buzzed on the table.

Theo. Of course.

She answered immediately. "What can I do for you today?"

"You met Luca Moretti?"

Sienna closed her eyes slowly.

"How do you know that?"

"The internet knows everything."

"That's horrifying."

"It's Monaco." Theo sounded delighted. "There are photos."

Her stomach dropped. "What photos?"

"The blurry kind, the mysterious kind. It's all very sexy. Very 'who is the brunette on Luca Moretti's yacht?'"

"Oh my God. Hang on, let me look."

Sienna opened social media instantly. And there it was. A grainy photo from the marina docks showing her standing beside Luca on the yacht balcony, champagne in hand while he leaned close enough to whisper something near her ear. Sienna vaguely remembered a flash going off from the docks. The comments underneath were already insane.

New girlfriend? Another model? He looks obsessed. Poor girl doesn't know what she's getting into.

Sienna dropped her head into her hands and returned her phone to her ear. She had spent one evening talking to an attractive billionaire by accident and suddenly strangers online were creating relationship theories.

"This is your fault," she informed Theo.

"My fault? You're the one flirting with internationally famous rich men."

"I was not flirting."

Theo laughed loudly. "Sienna. Please. I know you. You panic flirt."

Heat crawled up her neck.

"That doesn't mean anything."

"Mhm."

"He's ridiculous."

"Ridiculously hot?"

"I hate you."

"That's not a denial."

Sienna groaned softly, rubbing a hand over her face. Unfortunately, Theo wasn't entirely wrong. Luca had been attractive. He was the kind of man who found flirting second nature. And unfortunately, she'd enjoyed talking to him. Which was a real problem. Men like Luca Moretti did not exist in normal life. They existed in tabloids and scandals and luxury parties where someone eventually got hurt.

"You should stay away from him," Theo said finally, sounding more serious.

"I know."

"I mean it."

"I know."

Because underneath the humor and flirting, Sienna understood exactly what Luca was. He was the dangerous kind of temptation. Luca Moretti looked like the kind of mistake women convinced themselves they could survive.

After hanging up with Theo, Sienna leaned back in her chair and stared out toward the marina through the café windows. The Mediterranean looked beautiful beneath the morning sun, and while the yachts drifting across the water like floating palaces, Sienna was panicking because of one conversation.

Her phone buzzed again. Sienna frowned before opening the message.

From Unknown: You disappeared without saying goodbye properly. I'm offended. Luca

Her heart fluttered. Damn Theo adding her contact details to the 'freelance' section of the magazine to try and get her more work.

To Luca: I thought billionaires recovered quickly from emotional trauma.

From Luca: Only the fountain-related kind.

She smiled to herself. She typed another response before common sense could stop her.

To Luca: You're very committed to this fountain scandal identity.

From Luca: You're very committed to pretending you weren't flirting with me.

Sienna rolled her eyes. Then another message appeared.

From Luca: Lunch with me today.

To Luca: That's not even a question. Absolutely not.

This time his reply took longer.

From Luca: That sounded slightly less convincing than you intended.

How did he know her so well already? Sienna stared at the screen while warmth curled low in her stomach again. She could feel a terrible decision on the horizon - first came the flirting, then you were standing beside Luca Moretti in paparazzi photos while strangers online placed bets on how long your heart would survive.

To Luca: No thank you.

From Luca: Come on, wrong party girl. I promise not to crash into any fountains today.

A laugh escaped her and that felt even more dangerous than the flirting. Because flirting was one thing but enjoying him was another entirely.