Chapter 05
Tiziano Constanzo
The gates of the Ferrucci estate opened slowly, as if they feared the car leading the small convoy. The silence that followed felt almost ceremonial, broken only by the sound of finely tuned engines and the rustling of leaves in the garden. It was an appropriate reception, but far from impressive.
As soon as I stepped out of the car, I adjusted my jacket. The black fabric of my suit seemed to absorb the light around me, while the darker tie contrasted with the flawless white shirt. My Italian shoes, polished enough to reflect the sky, barely made a sound against the stone path.
My gaze swept across the garden, taking in the decorations.
Lanterns hung from the trees, casting a soft glow over the tables scattered outdoors.
Carefully arranged flowers tried to transform the setting into something refined, but the details betrayed a desperate attempt to please. Everything felt far too forced.
Luigi got out of the car behind me, adjusting his cuffs with a deliberate gesture. He cast an assessing glance over the scene, a smirk forming on his face.
“They could have tried harder,” I commented, keeping my voice low enough that only he could hear.
“Fix that expression, Tiziano,” he said, as if scolding me.
“I hope this little performance is worth my time.” My tone was dry, with no patience for pretending enthusiasm.
“And I hope you at least pretend you’re interested. A little courtesy won’t kill you.”
I rolled my eyes but walked toward the entrance of the house, Luigi at my side and Enzo just behind us. When we passed through the main doors, Ant?nio Ferrucci greeted us. He looked smaller than I remembered, with a nervous smile and a posture that shifted between servile and self-important.
“Don Constanzo! It’s an honor to have you here,” Ant?nio said, inclining his head slightly in respect.
“Ant?nio.” I greeted him with a brief nod, making it clear I was there out of formality, not pleasure.
He gestured for us to come in, leading us toward the main hall. I observed every detail around us as we walked. The house was tastefully decorated, but it was nothing more than an attempt to imitate true luxury.
The room was crowded, but the murmurs stopped when I entered. Every gaze turned toward me, assessing, measuring, as they always did. I expected nothing less.
Ant?nio hurried to introduce me to several people at the party, all of them irrelevant. I accepted a glass of champagne from a waitress who barely dared look me in the eye while I listened to Luigi exchange a few words with one of the guests.
And then she appeared.
Giulia Ferrucci descended the stairs as if she were a star taking the stage.
The gold-toned dress hugged her figure, shimmering beneath the crystal chandelier.
She was beautiful, I’ll admit, but there was something about her that didn’t convince me.
Something empty, mechanical, as if she had rehearsed extensively to appear perfect.
She walked toward me, keeping her smile in place while her eyes assessed me. It was a look I knew well: calculated, searching for any reaction she could use to her advantage.
“Don Constanzo, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, inclining her head slightly. Her voice was soft, but carried a clear intention to seduce.
“The pleasure is mine, Miss Ferrucci.” My response was polite but cold, while my gaze swept across the room before returning to her.
She noticed. Of course she did.
My lack of interest didn’t go unnoticed. She maintained her smile, but now there was a hint of frustration in her eyes. She was clearly not accustomed to being ignored.
Luigi approached, greeting Giulia with exaggerated courtesy while Ant?nio tried to hide his nervousness. I remained silent, observing the interaction as I took a sip of champagne. I let my gaze rest on the people around us for a moment before Giulia stepped forward, blocking my view.
“I hope you’re enjoying the evening, Don Constanzo,” she said with a smile.
“I’m enjoying it well enough.” My answer was brief.
She moved closer, lightly touching my arm.
“I’ve heard you prefer more private parties.”
Her tone was suggestive, and her touch felt like an invitation. I leaned forward, a cynical smile appearing on my lips.
“Are you trying to impress me, principessa?”
She laughed softly.
“Just trying to make sure this alliance happens and that it benefits everyone.”
Her eyes briefly dropped to my lips before meeting mine again. She was throwing herself at me shamelessly, but that wasn’t what bothered me. What bothered me was the lack of sincerity. She wanted what every woman wanted: power. And I wanted to know how far she would go to get it.
“Are you willing to do whatever it takes?” I asked, walking toward the balcony without even waiting for an answer. I heard her footsteps following me. I stopped when I reached the railing, letting the night breeze brush against my face as I waited.
She came up behind me, stopping only a few steps away. For a moment, she seemed to consider it, but then quickly regained her smile. Biting lightly on her lower lip, she took another step forward, shortening the distance between us.
“Whatever it takes.”
Before I could take the game any further, I heard a noise behind me. I turned just in time to see a figure stumble through the doorway and fall to her knees on the floor.
“Bianca!” Giulia shouted.
The girl’s face was flushed and her eyes wide as she tried to steady herself.
The problem? Her fall had sent her straight toward me, and her head struck me right at the level of my cock.
Giulia watched with a mixture of amusement and contempt while the girl remained on her knees, her face burning with embarrassment.
“Well, this is… interesting,” I murmured, arching an eyebrow as I looked down.
The girl tried to stand, and her voice faltered as she attempted to apologize.
“I… I was just…”
“Just spying,” I finished sarcastically. I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to her feet, but I didn’t loosen my grip. “Is this how you usually enter rooms, piccola?”
She quickly shook her head, her eyes fixed on the floor. I couldn’t tell whether she was more frightened of me or of the girl standing beside me.
“Bianca, you’re so clumsy,” Giulia scoffed, stepping closer. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Maybe she shouldn’t,” I replied, releasing Bianca’s arm and staring at her. There was something in her eyes, a spark that contrasted with her timid posture.
“Next time, ask permission before kneeling like that, principessa,” I added with a smirk.
Bianca looked at me for a brief moment before hurrying away, stumbling once again as she crossed the doorway. Giulia laughed, but I remained silent. She tried to resume the conversation, stepping closer and leaning toward me. But my patience was already gone.
I was tired enough as it was, and Giulia stirred nothing in me but boredom. There was no desire, no kind of fire that would justify considering her for anything beyond a convenient contract. And if she couldn’t awaken that in me now, how could I imagine her in my bed every night?
I left without saying anything. Giulia stayed where she was, frozen for a moment, perhaps unable to understand what had actually happened there.
As I left the balcony, I spotted Luigi in the main hall, engaged in some irrelevant conversation with one of the guests.
“Luigi.” My voice caught his attention immediately. He turned, realizing from my tone that I was impatient. “We’re leaving,” I ordered, already walking toward the door without waiting for him.
Luigi hurried to catch up with me, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt as he gave me an intrigued look.
“You weren’t satisfied?”
“Ant?nio may be useful, but his daughter isn’t.”
He asked no more questions. He knew my moods well enough to know when to stay quiet. As soon as we left the house and crossed the garden, the cars were ready, lined up like soldiers awaiting orders. I climbed into the lead vehicle without looking back while Luigi settled in beside me.
“So, we’re back to square one?” he asked, more to himself than to me.
“I don’t want her. Find another.” My words came out cold.
“Maybe you didn’t stay long enough to get to know the other daughter,” Luigi insisted, with the thoughtful tone of someone always trying to find solutions.
I let out a short, humorless laugh, turning my gaze toward the window while the other cars waited for us to leave.
“Uncle, if this one, the one you call a polished jewel, couldn’t spark my interest, what could I possibly expect from the other?”
Luigi sighed but didn’t argue. He simply nodded, crossing his arms as he signaled the driver to move forward.