All Chapters of Elegantly Wasted: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I’m just about to take another sip of my bourbon when a woman strides into the club, escorted by a man clad in a sleek black Armani suit. His expression is cold and unyielding, void of emotion, as he moves beside her with calculated precision.The woman is striking—draped in a dark grey mini dress that hugs her hourglass figure, the wrapped front design subtly emphasizing her curves. Her skin, kissed with a saffron tint, glows beneath the dim club lights, while waves of obsidian-black hair cascade over her shoulders. But it’s her eyes—sharp and brilliant like sapphires—that hold an unmistakable presence.I recognize her instantly. Edwina Gemstone—the youngest daughter of Armando and Henrietta Gemstone, a family for its wealth, power, and unshakable influence.The Gemstones built their empire from the ground up, transforming a once-small family business into a multinational business that dominates the industries of luxury real estate and corporate banking. Their reach extends beyond boa

EdwinaI stare at the phone, my fingers tightening around it as the line goes dead. With a slow exhale, I hand it back to Alessandro, who takes it without a word."Who is he?" I ask, still unsettled."You’ll find out soon enough," he replies dryly, a smirk playing at his lips.I roll my eyes, already annoyed by his cryptic nature. "Does he ever do business face-to-face?" I prod, trying to imagine the man behind that voice—deep, rich, and edged with arrogance.Alessandro chuckles. "Why? You already falling for him, princess?"I ignore the teasing lilt in his voice and instead ask, "So what happens now?""You wait for him to call the shots," he says simply, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.Frustration coils inside me, but I know better than to push him for more. With a sigh, I rise from my seat, leaving the club. The same black Lamborghini that brought me here is already waiting outside.The ride back to my office is silent, but my mind is anything but. The conversation re

Edwina"See you around, Princessa," Alessandro calls out smoothly as the car pulls up in front of my company building. The doors unlock automatically, and I step out, adjusting my dress. Before I can respond, Alessandro speeds off, leaving me standing at the entrance, watching the taillights disappear into traffic.A sharp, furious voice cuts through the air."I swear, Edwina, one day, I will strangle you!"My eyes widen as my best friend, Krystal, storms up to me, her heels clicking aggressively against the pavement. Her face is flushed with frustration, and her arms are crossed tightly over her chest."What the hell?" I blurt out, genuinely taken aback. "Krys, why are you screaming like a lunatic?"She places her hands on her hips, practically vibrating with fury. "Where the hell were you last night, Ed?! And you better not feed me any bullshit!"I sigh, already knowing how relentless Krystal can be when she wants answers. "How about we talk about this in my office?" I suggest calmly

Raffaele"I'm sorry," Edwina says, her voice tight with emotion as she stares at me, eyes filled with something close to regret. My fists clench and unclench of their own accord, my jaw tightening as I force myself to look away from her.No woman—no one—has ever dared to challenge me the way she does. She looked me dead in the eyes and raised her hand against me. If she were anyone else, she’d be dead already, a bullet lodged between her perfect brows. But she isn’t just anyone. She’s Edwina.I don’t know what about seeing Jasmine triggered her so violently, but I caught the flash of jealousy in her gaze before she masked it with anger. When her palm met my cheek, I felt the urge to remind her exactly who was in control. But I held back, knowing if I let that part of me take over, I’d push her too far. She’s already slipping through my fingers and the thought of losing her completely… I don’t want to think about it.The sound of the car door slamming pulls me from my thoughts. She’s le

~Edwina~“Tesoro.”Raffaele’s voice is sharp and controlled, breaking the silence of the penthouse kitchen where I sit, absentmindedly tracing patterns on the cool marble countertop.I exhale slowly, unwilling to meet his gaze. “What?” My tone is clipped, my annoyance barely concealed.His jaw tightens. “You can use my room for the nights you'll be staying here.”I scoff. “Thanks, but I prefer my own space.” My words drip with defiance, but he only arches a brow, clearly unfazed.“That shouldn’t be a problem. I have a lot of work to do.”I roll my eyes. “I’m sure you do.”Without another word, he turns and walks away, leaving me with my thoughts. A small part of me wants to call him back, to demand a real conversation instead of this frustrating game of evasion. But pride holds me still. Why should I be the one to bridge the distance? He was the one being impossible.I sigh, pushing myself up from the island, deciding to take a shower before bed. The path to his room is familiar, every