CHAPTER 24 – MORNING AFTER & TENSION AT WORK
Morning sunlight streamed softly through the curtains, painting the apartment in warm hues. I stirred, slowly opening my eyes, and a small, involuntary smile formed on my lips.
Dante lay beside me, his features softened by sleep, chest rising and falling gently. For a moment, I just watched him—calm, relaxed, so different from the intense, almost dangerous man I'd come to know.
Careful not to wake him, I slid out of bed, stretching lightly. My heart still skipped a beat remembering last night—the closeness, the intensity, the quiet warmth we shared. A blush crept onto my cheeks, and I quickly shook it off.
After a quick shower and getting dressed, I returned to the bedroom, only to find Dante sitting at the edge of the bed. His hair tousled, shirt slightly rumpled, a bright, warm smile lighting up his face as he saw me.
"Good morning," he said softly, his deep voice sending another flutter through my chest.
"Good morning," I replied, trying to sound casual, though my heart betrayed me with every beat.
The memories of last night came rushing back—our quiet confessions, our soft laughter, the gentle touches, the moments we had shared. I bit my lip, trying to hide the small smile threatening to surface.
"Sleep well?" he asked, his eyes glinting with teasing warmth.
"Better than I expected," I murmured, blushing slightly, looking away.
We talked quietly, savoring the fleeting morning together, joking softly, sharing simple conversation about the day ahead. Even mundane topics seemed charged with a subtle energy whenever he was near.
After breakfast, I grabbed my bag and prepared to leave. My mind was a swirl of thoughts about Dante, about last night, and about what might come next.
The office was buzzing as usual, but I barely noticed. Adrian called almost immediately after I arrived.
"Auri," he said, voice smooth, casual, but with that unmistakable undertone of charm. "Can you join me for dinner tonight?"
I froze. I hadn't expected the invitation—or the persistence in his tone. "Uh… I'm not sure…" I started, but Adrian interrupted.
"I insist. You have no choice," he said with a teasing grin. "It'll be fun."
Caught off guard, I hesitated, then reluctantly agreed. "Alright… I'll come."
"Perfect," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "See you tonight, then."
I hung up and returned to my desk, trying to settle into my routine, typing emails, organizing schedules, and pretending everything was normal.
But my mind wandered back to last night. To Dante. To the soft smiles, the gentle touches, the quiet intimacy we had shared. A small, guilty smile crept onto my lips, and I shook my head, trying to clear the memories.
And then reality struck.
What was the real score between him and me? Last night had been special, undeniably so—but did it really mean anything? Could I trust my heart, or was I still caught in a tangle of desire and uncertainty?
The answer wasn't clear. And as I sat there, staring at my computer screen, I realized that even with last night's closeness, the questions lingered.
Dante was still Dante—unpredictable, intense, irresistible. And I… wasn't ready to give him everything my heart wanted. Not yet.
Not until I was sure where we truly stood.
And then… as if the universe had a sense of irony, Dante appeared.
He was in the office that morning for a meeting—an early start with one of the clients Adrian had been coordinating. He looked impossibly sharp: tailored suit, crisp white shirt, commanding presence. Every head in the room turned as he walked past. I tried to hide behind my computer screen, cheeks warming, fingers fumbling over the keyboard.
Of course, he noticed me immediately. His eyes flicked toward me, that same piercing gaze that made my heart stutter. And just like that, the room became smaller, hotter, charged.
I glanced away quickly, pretending to focus on my work. But the little thrill that surged through me was impossible to ignore.
Adrian, sitting across from me, clearly noticed my distracted state. He leaned back in his chair, smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "You seem… preoccupied," he said casually, though there was amusement in his voice.
I frowned, trying to look innocent. "Just… emails," I mumbled.
Adrian's eyebrows lifted. "Hmm. Sure." He leaned forward, gaze lingering. "Just remember, tonight's dinner. I expect you to come."
I bit my lip, feeling trapped by his insistence. "Yes… of course," I murmured, still not entirely convinced I wanted to be anywhere but here… and thinking about Dante instead.
The morning stretched on, filled with conference calls and paperwork, but I couldn't concentrate. Every little sound—the click of Dante's pen, the shuffle of his papers, the faint rustle of his suit—made me glance up, heart racing.
He caught my eye once, and for a split second, the world seemed to pause. His lips curved slightly in that teasing half-smile, like he knew something I didn't. I looked away quickly, pretending to type furiously, but my fingers were shaking slightly.
I knew what was happening. The tension between us wasn't just emotional—it was palpable, and it carried through every glance, every gesture.
And the more I tried to ignore it, the more impossible it became.
At lunch, I stepped away from my desk for a moment, needing air. I wandered to the small terrace outside the office. The city sprawled beneath me, sunlight catching the glass buildings, but I barely noticed. I could feel Dante's presence even here, even though he wasn't with me.
Memories from last night returned, uninvited but persistent: the soft smiles, the quiet conversation, the closeness we had shared. I shook my head, trying to reclaim my composure.
I couldn't deny it—I liked him. More than I should. But Adrian's dinner invitation loomed in my mind, a reminder that my life was complicated enough already. And yet… Dante.
The thought of him, his smile, the way he looked at me, left me breathless, flushed, and secretly thrilled.
Back at my desk, I resolved to focus. Emails, schedules, tasks—anything to distract myself. But deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time before Dante would make his presence felt again, and I wasn't entirely sure I wanted him to wait.
Because no matter how I tried to convince myself, one thing was clear: he was impossible to ignore, and he wasn't going anywhere.
And I… wasn't entirely sure I wanted him to