Sophia's life has returned to a sense of normalcy after Alexandro's arrest and the Cavalieri family's sudden disappearance. She's been married to Dante for a while now, and he's been true to his word, providing her with small glimpses into the Moretti family's business dealings.
As Sophia walked out of the room, Dante's eyes lingered on her, his gaze burning with an intensity that made him uncomfortable. He reminded himself that their marriage was just a contract, a means to an end. But as he watched Sophia's retreating back, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was starting to feel something more.
Leonardo's voice cut through his thoughts, his words dripping with disdain. "You're getting too close to her, Dante"
Dante's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. But he knew his father was right. He couldn't let his feelings get in the way of their arrangement. He took a deep breath, reminding himself of the reasons he had married Sophia in the first place.
But as he turned to leave, he caught himself wondering what Sophia was doing at that moment, whether she needed anything. He shook his head, chuckling wryly to himself. He was getting too soft.
And yet, as he made his way to his office, he found himself picking up his phone and dialing Sophia's number. "Hey," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Just wanted to check in and see how your day is going."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Dante wondered if he had overstepped. But then Sophia's voice came through, warm and husky. "It's going well, thanks. Just working on a story."
Dante's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What kind of story was Sophia working on? And did it have anything to do with the Moretti family?
As Dante hung up the phone with Sophia, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. His parents thought he had genuinely fallen in love with Sophia, and he had let them believe it. But the truth was, their marriage was a contract, a mutually beneficial arrangement that had nothing to do with love.
Dante's eyes wandered to the photo of him and Sophia on his desk. They had taken it on their wedding day, and Sophia had smiled up at him with a look that had almost seemed genuine. Almost.
He shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. It didn't matter what his parents thought, or what Sophia thought, for that matter. What mattered was that their arrangement remained in place, and that Sophia continued to provide him with the one thing he needed: access to her journalistic resources.
But as he delved back into his work, Dante couldn't shake off the feeling that he was getting in over his head. Sophia was getting under his skin, and he wasn't sure if he liked it.
Dante's eyes lingered on the photo of him and Sophia, his mind wandering back to their conversation earlier. He had to admit, he was starting to enjoy her company. She was smart, witty, and had a spark in her eyes that he found intriguing.
But he couldn't let his guard down. Their marriage was a business arrangement, nothing more. He had to keep reminding himself of that.
Just then, his assistant buzzed him. "Dante, you have a meeting with the marketing team in 15 minutes."
Dante nodded, standing up from his desk. He glanced at the photo one last time before turning to leave.
As he walked out of his office, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was living a lie. His parents thought he was happily married, but the truth was, he and Sophia were just going through the motions.
He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the meeting ahead. But as he walked into the conference room, he couldn't help but wonder what Sophia was doing at that moment. And whether she was thinking of him.
As Sophia sat at her desk, typing away on her latest article, Rachel walked in, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Hey, girl, what's going on?" Rachel asked, plopping down in the chair across from Sophia's desk.
Sophia looked up, a hint of a smile on her face. "Just trying to meet this deadline. You know how it is."
Rachel nodded, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Yeah, I do. But I also know that you're not telling me everything."
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Rachel leaned in, a conspiratorial whisper escaping her lips. "I'm talking about Dante. You can't stop talking about him, Sophia. And I'm not just talking about the way you rave about his business skills or his...ahem...physical attributes."
Sophia's face grew hot, and she looked away, trying to compose herself. "Rachel, stop it. You're being ridiculous."
But Rachel just laughed. "Oh, Sophia, I'm not being ridiculous. I'm just calling it like I see it. You're falling for him, aren't you?"
Sophia's eyes snapped back to Rachel's face, a denial on her lips. But before she could say anything, Rachel's phone buzzed.
Rachel glanced at the screen, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Speak of the devil. It's Dante. Again."
Sophia's heart skipped a beat as Rachel handed her the phone. "He's calling to check in on you. Again."
Sophia rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. But as she took the phone from Rachel, she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart.
"Hey," she said, answering the phone.
"Hey, amore," Dante replied, his deep voice sending a shiver down Sophia's spine. "I was thinking of picking you up for dinner tonight. There's a new restaurant in town that I've been wanting to try."
Sophia's eyes widened as she glanced at the clock on her computer. She had completely lost track of time.
"That sounds great," she said, trying to sound casual. "What time were you thinking?"
"How about 7?" Dante suggested.
Sophia nodded, even though Dante couldn't see her. "That sounds perfect."
"Great," Dante said. "I'll see you at 7."
As Sophia hung up the phone, she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest. She had to admit, she was looking forward to dinner with Dante.
At 7 sharp, Sophia heard a knock at the door. She got up to answer it, smoothing out her dress as she went.
When she opened the door, Dante was standing there, looking handsome in a black suit and tie. He smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Hey," he said, holding out his arm. "You look beautiful."
Sophia felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she took his arm. "Thanks," she said, smiling up at him.
As they walked to the car, Sophia couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had no idea what the night had in store, but she was eager to find out.
The restaurant was a fancy Italian place in the heart of the city. The decor was elegant, with white tablecloths and crystal chandeliers. The aroma of freshly cooked pasta and pizza filled the air, making Sophia's stomach growl with hunger.
Dante led her to their table, pulling out her chair for her. Sophia smiled at him, feeling a sense of gratitude.
As they perused the menu, Sophia couldn't help but notice the way Dante's eyes sparkled in the dim light of the restaurant. She felt a flutter in her chest, and suddenly, she was glad that she had agreed to dinner.
But as they ordered their food and began to chat, Sophia couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Dante's invitation than met the eye. What did he really want from her? And why was she starting to feel like she was in over her head?
As the night wore on, Sophia insisted on having a few drinks, despite Dante's reservations. He tried to protest, but Sophia was determined to let loose and have some fun.
As they sipped their drinks, Sophia's inhibitions began to fade away. She started to giggle and joke, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Dante watched her, a mixture of amusement and concern on his face.
As the drinks kept flowing, Sophia's behavior became more and more erratic. She started to slur her words and stumble over her feet. Dante quickly realized that she was getting drunk, and he knew he had to get her home safely.
As they left the restaurant, Sophia leaned heavily on Dante's arm, her head spinning with the effects of the alcohol. Dante supported her, trying to keep her upright as they made their way to the car.
Once they were inside, Sophia started to babble on about Dante's looks, telling him how handsome he was and how much she loved his eyes. Dante listened patiently, trying not to smile as Sophia's words became more and more slurred.
As they pulled up to the house, Sophia turned to Dante and planted a sloppy kiss on his lips. Dante's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure, gently prying Sophia's lips off his.
"Let's get you inside, okay?" he said, trying to sound calm despite the sudden rush of desire that had flooded through him.
As he helped Sophia into the house, Dante couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. He had been attracted to Sophia from the start, but he had been determined to keep their relationship platonic.
Now, as he watched Sophia stumble around the living room, he found himself struggling to control his desires. He knew that he couldn't take advantage of Sophia while she was drunk, no matter how much he wanted to.
With a heavy sigh, Dante decided to take a cold shower to calm himself down. As he stood under the icy water, he couldn't help but think about Sophia and the way she had kissed him.
He took multiple cold showers that night, trying to shake off the desire that had been building up inside him. But as he lay in bed, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. He wanted Sophia, but he wanted her to want him back, too. And he was determined to wait until she was sober and willing before he made his move.