Alfonso decided to show her another glimpse of his world, one by one, step by step.

The very next day, he met her at her cafe like usual.

They sat across each other, sipping their coffee, talking to each other, while speaking Andrea was playing with the strand of her hair, rolling it around her finger before she unroll it.

And Alfonso, he was listening to her attentively and observing her every action as if it were the most important piece of information ever.

He spoke after a brief silence.

" I'm hosting a small gathering tomorrow night.

Business associates.

You should come."

Andrea froze, her fingers stopped wrapping her hair strands around her fingers.

"Me?"

"Yes."

His gaze on her, while he nod.

" A little change of scenery... you deserve that. No? "

Her heart pounded in her chest, half flattered, half fluttered

" I don't think I should."

" Consider it a thank you... for all the coffees."

His voice was low, persuasive, like honey laced with something darker.

Andrea laughed nervously, torn between caution and curiosity.

" Well, I'll think about it."

Alfonso's smirk deepened. He already knew her answer.

Even if she didn't.

Andrea’s fingers hovered over the black envelope that was now in front of her. The golden letters shimmering faintly under the warm lights of the café.

After closing hours, when the last customer had left, Olivia leaned against the counter with a teasing yet mischievous grin.

" So... are you going to that mysterious party of your....

You know? "

She pretended to zip her lips at the last part.

Andrea chuckled, while placing her coffee in front of her.

" Actually... I was thinking of asking if you'd like to come with me."

Olivia's eyes widened, clearly not expecting that.

" What...?

You want me to third-wheel your secret love story? "

Andrea rolled her eyes playfully, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

" I thought you'd enjoy the company there and fancy wine."

Olivia's ears perked up at that, she pretended to consider.

" I mean, if you're insisting that much, I'm willing to accompany you.

Just because you're insisting."

Andrea laughed at her antics but she shook her head, before taking another sip of her coffee.

The next afternoon, Andrea mustered up the courage to ask Alfonso.

After serving his coffee, she said in her usual soft and polite voice.

" Alfonso! "

Alfonso looked up, his dark eyes softening slightly as they met hers. It was the first time she had called him by his name, and for a moment, something flickered in his gaze

He had never loved his name this much before but the moment she said it, he felt his name so precious.

" Would it be... okay if I bring Olivia along? "

For a moment, his expression was unreadable, sharp, composed. Then, the faintest smile softened his features.

" If that makes you feel more comfortable... Then, sure."

Relief washed over Andrea, though she couldn't quite explain why she cared so much about his approval.

"What’s the theme? By the way! "

She asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

Alfonso’s smile widened, just a little.

" No specific, whatever you want... it's up to you."

Later that night, Olivia and Andrea arrived at the venue and froze at the grand entrance.

The hall glimmered with golden chandeliers, marble floors reflecting the light like a mirror.

The soft sound of classical music filled the space, blending seamlessly with the murmur of conversations.

Waiters in white gloves carried trays of champagne, and guests moved gracefully in expensive gowns and suits.

" This..."

Olivia whispered, clutching Andrea’s arm,

" ...isn't exactly what I had in mind.

I mean look at this! This is majestic, is he a king?”

Andrea was also in awe but she replied

" Me neither."

Their family parties were lavish, yes, but this was different.

More refined.

More powerful.

More remarkable.

Yet, as they walked in, heads turned, not out of judgment, but curiosity.

They fit in more with their appearance but the innocence didn't match with people already present there.

Both girls were daughters of successful businessmen, a few people at his party knew them already, after all, even if they had chosen simpler lives, didn't change anything.

Andrea’s café was her own small kingdom, something she had started with great love.

But tonight, however, they somehow looked like they belonged to another world.

Andrea’s long navy blue gown with silver lining hugged her figure delicately, her hair swept into soft wavy curls.

Olivia wore emerald green, her confidence shining as always. They looked like little princesses, graceful, captivating, but utterly unaware of how effortlessly they carried themselves.

Alfonso stood at the far side of the room, leaning against the marble bar with his hands in his pockets, watching, when they entered.

His sharp features softened slightly when his eyes locked onto Andrea.

The moment Alfonso spotted them, he made his way toward Andrea, his presence cutting through the crowd without a word.

" Welcome."

Andrea glanced around, still trying to process the grandeur.

" Thank you."

But a moment later she spoke again.

" You didn't mention it would be... like this."

His lips twitched.

" You didn’t ask."

Olivia bit her lip, holding back a laugh but then she speak it out loud.

" Just out of curiosity, are you a king? "

Alfonso’s gaze flicked toward her briefly, polite but not as warm as when looking at Andrea but her question had amused him.

He chuckled at her remark, then he said

" You can say."

Then, he added turning his gaze back at Andrea

" You both look beautiful."

Andrea's felt a little shy at the compliment, though she quickly masked it with a small smile.

" Thank you."

For a few moments, they simply stood there, chatting but after a while Olivia went to the bar her favourite place for a drink leaving the two alone.

Yet somehow, Andrea didn't feel out of place anymore.

Not with him, he stayed with her the whole time, talking casually but mostly listening to the things, Andrea was telling him, which she found amusing in her cafe or anywhere else, yet so innocent topics that he was amused at how she find these things fun and worthy of discussion.

For the first time in years, he understood the innocence he had lost decades ago, she still had that, not just that, she had that at its peak.

The night unfolded perfectly, soft clinking of glasses, the gentle murmur of conversations, and the distant laughter filled the grand hall.

Andrea sat beside Alfonso, her posture relaxed as the evening carried on.

She noticed that while many greeted him with bows of respect, no one else sat beside him.

She was the only one, talking, laughing, and receiving his full attention

What intrigued people the most was that he wasn’t just nodding or silently listening, he was fully engaged in conversation with here.

The initial stiffness in her shoulders had melted away. The more they talked, the more she forgot where they were, and more importantly, who he might be.

Olivia, on the other hand, was in her element. Her emerald green gown shimmered under the chandeliers as she twirled a glass of wine in her fingers, when she came

" So... do all parties here come with this much eye candy? "

The man she was teasing chuckled, a tall, sandy-haired guest with a grin that matched Olivia’s playful energy.

" You don't wanna know."

Andrea tried to suppress a laugh from her corner, watching her best friend work her charm.

She glanced at Alfonso, ready to apologize for Olivia’s antics.

But instead of irritation, she found him watching the scene with amusement, his black eyes crinkling slightly at the corners.

" She's not usually like this,"

Andrea whispered, leaning a little closer.

Alfonso’s lips twitched, his voice low.

" I doubt that."

Andrea bit her lower lip, suppressing a smile.

" I swear."

" It's fine,"

He said smoothly.

" A little fun never hurts... as long as she doesn't steal someone’s wallet."

Andrea laughed softly, her eyes sparkling under the golden lights.

More than a few heads turned toward them, as they were so aware what this means but no words out of fear.

To outsiders, they must have looked like two friends, him leaning slightly toward her, speaking in that calm, composed voice.

Andrea had never been the loudest in the room, but tonight there was a soft glow about her, like she belonged there without even trying.

No one approached her that evening because she was sitting with Alfonso and that was enough of a message for everyone but eyes were still on her.

At one point, her gaze flicked toward the tall, men standing by the walls. They hadn't moved all night, silent shadows in perfect black suits.

" Your bodyguards? "

She asked quietly.

Alfonso’s eyes followed hers before returning to her with a hint of a smile.

" You sound surprised."

Andrea shrugged, looking around every corner had one.

" They're...a lot."

He leaned a little closer, voice low and teasing.

" Doesn't your father have guards? "

Her eyes widened before she burst into soft laughter, covering her mouth with her hand.

" Touché."

But after a while when she saw a smile on his lips, she said

" But they're not this much."

" But still he has."

Alfonso's smile lingered, a rare sight that only seemed to appear when he was talking to her.