Elena POV The banquet hall smelled like money trying to disguise itself as tradition, candle wax and old wine and too many roses crammed into too few vases. I stood beside Dante near the entrance, my hand resting lightly on his arm. Within seconds, I felt the weight of the room settle on us. "They're staring," I murmured. Dante didn't even glance around. "They're always staring," he said. "Tonight, they just have more reasons to." Ricci reached us first. His smile was polite enough, but his eyes swept over me with open appraisal, lingering on my dress, my posture, my face, as though he were assessing an investment. "Dante," he said smoothly. "And the lovely Elena. I didn't realize the Board banquet had become the place for personal displays." "Elena isn't a display," Dante replied evenly. "Watch how you speak about her." For the briefest moment, Ricci's smile tightened. Then he inclined his head. "My mistake." He moved on without another word. I let out a slow
Ler mais