As the night went on, the tension between them began to melt, gradually, like snow under sunlight.

They talked about little things, books, music, how she started her café.

Andrea's eyes sparkled when she spoke about her work, her voice gaining warmth with every word.

" You know, it wasn't supposed to be permanent..."

She admitted, swirling the champagne in her glass.

" Just something to keep busy... but I ended up loving it."

Alfonso listened to her closely and nodding ever now and then, his gaze steady.

Her heart gave a small, unexpected flutter when she felt him looking straight at her.

She quickly looked away, pretending to adjust the delicate strap of her dress.

The warmth of the champagne eased Andrea's tension and nervousness

Olivia was nowhere around her, she seemed to have embraced the atmosphere fully, her usual bubbly energy dialed up under the golden lights.

But after a while she came back.

" This place is... definitely not what I expected."

Olivia leaned in, voice low but brimming with mischief.

" Are we at a royal ball or some secret society gathering? "

Andrea bit back a laugh, casting a quick glance at Alfonso, who sat beside her with his usual composed calm but Andrea spoke

" Behave."

Olivia smirked, eyes sparkling.

" Where’s the fun in that? "

It didn’t take long before Olivia’s gaze locked onto a tall, dark-haired guest lingering by the bar, charming, confident, and equally playful.

The flirtation started with subtle glances, then small smiles across the room.

Eventually, Olivia excused herself, making her way toward him with the kind of effortless confidence that only she could pull off.

Andrea sighed, already anticipating the aftermath.

" I should stop her."

Alfonso’s deep chuckle broke through her thoughts, quiet, low, and entirely unexpected.

" Let her have her fun."

Andrea glanced at him, surprised. His face remained neutral, but there was amusement flickering in his dark eyes.

" You're not... worried about the scene she's about to cause? "

He leaned back, fingers lazily tracing the rim of his glass.

" I've seen the worse."

Andrea couldn't help but smile, shaking her head.

Half an hour later, Olivia returned, flushed and grinning, her partner in crime nowhere to be seen. She was a little drunk

" Don't say a word,"

She warned, pointing a finger at Andrea.

Andrea’s lips twitched, but before she could reply,

Olivia turned to Alfonso with a playful glint in her eye.

" She always this bossy."

Alfonso's gaze flicked between them, slow and measured, before settling on Andrea.

" Really! I think she's perfect."

Andrea’s heart skipped a crazy beat, her fingers gripping her glass a little tighter, warmth reaching her cheeks.

The weight of his words lingered, casual on the surface, but carrying something deeper beneath.

Olivia's grin widened, sensing the shift.

" Well, well..."

She teased, leaning in towards Andrea.

" I'm definitely third-wheeling."

Andrea’s cheeks heated, but she quickly straightened to make Olivia stop saying useless words, tying to shut her up.

" Shhh..."

Alfonso's quiet smile remained, but he said nothing, letting the conversation play out without interference.

As the night wore on, Andrea noticed how everyone’s eyes seemed to linger on them, on the way she and Alfonso spoke in hushed tones, how his posture subtly shifted closer whenever she leaned in.

" Why is everyone staring? "

She whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Alfonso's gaze flicked toward the room without missing a beat.

" Let them."

Andrea blinked, taken aback by his calm confidence.

" Doesn't it bother you? "

His gaze settled back on her.

" ...only if it bothers you."

Her heart stumbled in her chest.

She glanced away, trying to ignore the warmth blooming in her heart.

At one point, her gaze once again drifted toward the bodyguards stationed along the walls.

Their presence was both silent and imposing, like shadows that never quite disappeared.

" Do they ever... relax? "

She asked, voice low, trying to shift conversation.

Alfonso followed her line of sight, his lips curling faintly.

" They're not here to relax."

Andrea's brow furrowed, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

" What are they here for, then?

I mean it's a party. No? "

He turned back to her, meeting her gaze with quiet intensity.

" To make sure you enjoy your evening... without any interruptions."

His every word caught her off guard even if just for a second.

She should have laughed it off, but something in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

Still, she forced a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.

" Sounds like a bit much for a party."

Alfonso’s smirk widened.

" Depends on who’s invited."

By the time the night neared its end, Andrea found herself laughing more easily, her usual defenses slipping unnoticed as she lost herself in the moment.

The world outside seemed to blur and felt far away, like a different life entirely.

A quiet, unseen danger lingering beneath the surface, which Andrea had not anticipated yet, she had no idea she had entered the lion's den willingly and now there is no turning back.

One thing was clear, they had gotten closer and a lot comfortable with each other.

Well, Andrea had

Alfonso always was.

Andrea leaned back in her chair, the champagne leaving a pleasant buzz in her veins.

She glanced at Olivia, half-asleep with her head propped on her hand, a faint smile still lingering from her mischief earlier.

Alfonso sat beside her, quiet but present, fingers still circling the rim of his glass.

The tension from earlier had melted away, yet something heavier had taken its place.

A strange... but a strong pull between them.

" You don't talk much,"

She murmured, breaking the silence.

His dark eyes flicked toward her.

" You talk enough for both of us."

A surprised laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it.

" Is that your way of saying I talk too much? "

His lips curved slightly, just enough to make her know that he had smiled.

" No, I like listening to you."

There it was again, that quiet intensity hovering beneath his calm surface.

She should be afraid of him.

But she wasn't.

But there was that dangerously addictive thing about the way he looked at her, like he could see straight through whatever walls she tried to put up.

Andrea shifted in her seat, suddenly aware of his gaze on her then she said

" You... don't seem like the type to go to parties."

" I'm not."

An answer cane immediately like he knew she'd ask this.

" So why are you here? "

His fingers stilled against the glass.

" Maybe I was expecting someone."

Her heart stumbled, too fast, too loud.

He was playing with her.

But the way he said it, so calm, so certain, made it hard to brush off.

But nothing escaped him.

He noticed everything.

She glanced away quickly, pretending to fix the strap of her dress again, but the flicker in his eyes told her he'd noticed.

He always did.

" Waiting for someone, huh? "

She asked, her voice light, almost quiet masking the tiny knot tightening in her chest.

Alfonso’s gaze didn’t waver.

" Hmm."

Andrea's fingers curled around her glass. Something about the way he said it, calm, made her feel like she was a rebound.

" Must be someone... important,"

She added, trying to sound indifferent.

His lips curved, just a hint of a smile.

" Yes."

The knot in her chest twisted tighter.

Andrea hated how easily he could unsettle her, how he could make her question something without even saying it outright.

She should have left it there.

But some reckless part of her couldn't help pressing further.

" And... did that someone showed up? "

His dark eyes lingered on her, a long, steady beat.

" Yes "

Simple.

Final.

But the way he said it, like a statement rather than an answer.

Andrea's pulse fasten.

He was playing with her.

The certainty in his voice made it impossible to tell otherwise

Was he playing games?

Was he testing her?

And somehow... it felt that way.

Before she could figure out what to say, Alfonso leaned back, fingers tapping lightly against his glass, as if the conversation was already over.

He swirled his drink lazily before glancing at her, a little smirk playing on his lips.

" You wanna meet? "

And that was the last thing she wanna do.

Andrea blinked, caught off guard.

He was already moving, like he'd given her enough clues and it was up for her to follow.

She shrugged, trying not to look as disappointed as she was feeling right now.

Without a word, he stood and extended his hand toward her, patient, steady, as if he already knew she'd take it.

Her brow arched, but after a small hesitation, she slipped her hand into his.

A ripple passed through the room, curious glances flicking their way, subtle but unmistakable.

All eyes on them, curious to see what is going on.

Alfonso led her across the floor, his grip firm but never forceful.

" There she is."

Andrea's heart stumbled.

For a second, she didn't understand.

He had stopped in front of a full-length mirror, the glass reflecting the two of them standing side by side.

Then it hit her, too late to hide the way her cheeks flushed, the sparkle in her eyes returned which was lost moments ago.

A nervous laugh bubbled up before she could stop it, the sound softer than she meant.

She felt a relief all of a sudden, even she had no idea why.

Alfonso didn't say anything, but the faint curve of his lips told her everything.

He'd been watching, waiting, just to see how she'd react.

He was testing her, to see if he mention someone else, what would be her reaction.

She reacted exactly as he had anticipated.

That was the moment, he knew

He had won.

Again.