LOGIN~FIORELLA~“Go ahead. Answer your call,” I tell Lucas.“Fiorella….” he calls as his eyebrows lift.“No, seriously.” I wave my hand dismissively. “Go ahead.”The phone continues ringing between us.“I'm sure she won't appreciate being ignored,” I tell him.He looks down at the screen again the same time I fold my arms across my chest.“Actually, you two would look really good together,” I say, and his eyes snap back to mine.I smile, but it’s probably the fakest smile I've ever worn.“Clara and Lucas.” I nod thoughtfully. “It has a nice ring to it.”“Fiorella,” he says in a warning tone.“You should answer her,” I say again, completely ignoring the tone in his voice.He stares at me, but I turn away before he can see exactly how much this bothers me.Because I hate this.I hate the sudden twisting sensation in my stomach.I hate the jealousy crawling beneath my skin.And most of all, I hate that I have absolutely no right to feel this way.I just confessed th
~FIORELLA~I have never felt this exposed in my entire life.Not when I've stood in front of a courtroom full of people waiting for me to fail.Not when I've walked into a room filled with men twice my age and made them listen to me.Nothing compares to standing in front of Lucas and admitting that I've fallen in love with him.Never in my life did I ever think of confessing my feelings to a MAN first.What more?? I just confessed my feelings to a man I know absolutely nothing about….not even his family, his friends, his childhood, where he's from….Now, I'm standing in front of that MAN after doing the unthinkable.My heart is pounding so violently that I'm almost convinced he can hear it.He doesn't say anything. He just stares at me.And somehow, his silence is worse than anything he could have said.I swallow.“Say something, Lucas.”But he says nothing. His eyes remain fixed on mine.“You're making me nervous, Lucas.” I shift uncomfortably.That finally s
~LUCAS~For several seconds, I genuinely forget how to breathe.‘Bisexual.’The word keeps repeating inside my head, almost refusing to settle into something I can understand.I stare at Fiorella, and she doesn't look away this time.There is no teasing smile on her lips. No arrogance. No challenge in her eyes.Just vulnerability.And somehow, seeing her like this affects me more than the confession itself.“You're bisexual,” I repeat quietly, and she nods positively.I let out a breath and drag a hand over my face.I don't even know what I was expecting her to say.Maybe I was expecting her to laugh and tell me I had misunderstood everything.Maybe I was expecting her to say Juliette was just a friend.Maybe I was expecting her to deny everything because, honestly, some part of me desperately wanted her to.Instead, she has looked me directly in the eyes and admitted it.I swallow.“So…” I pause, struggling to find the right words. “Why?”Her eyebrows draw t
~FIORELLA~I almost stop breathing when I hear Lucas mention Juliette.Lucas watches my face. And suddenly, everything makes sense.The phone, his expression at the table, the silence in the car, the way he avoided looking at me.My stomach drops.“You…” My voice barely comes out. “You read it?”He doesn't answer immediately. He looks away, then back at me.“Yes, Fiorella.”My lips part. “You actually read my message?”“I saw the notification,” he replies.“That doesn't mean you read it. You have no right reading my message!” I yell at him.“Well, I did,” he shrugs. “I'm sorry I read your message, but I'm glad I actually read it. Unless, I would have been in the dark for long.”My face burns.“How much did you read?” I ask.His jaw clenches. “Enough.”“Enough? What does that mean?” I ask.“It means I saw Juliette's name.” He pauses. “And I saw what she wrote. I read the nasty and naughty text.”I feel the blood drain from my face.“I wasn't trying to snoop through your phone. It was ju
~FIORELLA~“What was that with Clara all about?”The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.For a second, Lucas just stares at me, and his expression is too blank.Then he slowly takes off his jacket and tosses it over the back of the nearest chair.“What was what?” he asks casually.I blink.I actually blink at him.“What?” I ask.He looks at me with an innocent expression that would almost be convincing if I didn't know him so well.“With Clara,” I say.He loosens his tie. “What about Clara?”“You know exactly what I'm talking about, Lucas.” My jaw tightens.“I'm afraid I don't, Fiorella.” He gives me a confused look.I stare at him, and he stares back.Something hot begins crawling up my neck.“Lucas,” I call tentatively.“Yes?” he answers in a nonchalant tone. “Don't,” I say, suddenly irritated with his tone.His eyebrows lift. “Don't what?”I let out a sharp breath. “Stop pretending you don't understand me.”“I genuinely don't,” he replies. “Bullshit.
~FIORELLA~I stay in the bathroom much longer than I need to.I stand in front of the mirror with both palms pressed against the edge of the marble sink, staring at my reflection as if the woman looking back at me might have some sensible explanation for what just happened.My face is still warm. My heart is still beating far too quickly.And, annoyingly, my eyes look suspiciously close to panic.I hate that.I hate feeling out of control….. especially here.Especially tonight.I close my eyes and take a slow breath, then another.“Pull yourself together, Fiorella.”My voice sounds quieter than I expect.I straighten, and smooth my dress over my hips, fix my hair, check my lipstick, and stare at myself again.There's no panic now.Nothing.I am Fiorella Vincenzo Romano.I don't panic. I don't get intimidated.And I certainly don't allow another woman to make me feel inferior.Clara doesn't matter.Whatever she thinks she is doing doesn't matter.And Lucas…I stop
~ELENA~The whispers multiply until it feels like the entire hallway has turned into a low hum of excitement.“Who is he? Does anyone know?”“They say he is doing his masters.”“I heard he's transferred.”“Transferred? He looks like he walked straight out of a magazine.”“D
~NICO~The moment my fist connects with Alessandro’s jaw, the sound is louder than I expect. A sharp crack that silences even the shrieks around us.He stumbles, spits blood, and collapses onto the floor.The crowd roars….half in shock, half in awe. Phones are out, cap
~ELENA~Nico's lips graze my cheeks…almost a kiss.Almost.And then the gym door swings open.“Damn!” We both exclaim.Riccardo walks in, towel over his shoulders. He pauses, eyes flicking between our too-close bodies.“Everything okay here??” He asks, voice neutral, but b
Alessandro stands in the middle of his father’s office, tall and impassive, hands in his pockets, face unreadable. His black shirt clings to his frame, sleeves rolled to the elbows, veins prominent, tattoos peeking at his wrists. The room is thick with tension.Behind the heavy mahogany desk sits







