Chapter 55 A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN
••Luciana••
“My sweatshirt looks good on you.” His voice slipped into the space between us like it had every right to be there.
I just know I will not be the one to break the silence, and he silently took the offer and said something first.
I didn't answer, I just kept walking.
The hallway felt longer than usual, each step measured, and the sound of footsteps were audible enough. I pretended not to hear him. Silence was easier than saying the wrong thing.
“How are you doing?” he asked.
I stopped walking and turned just enough to look at him. “Do I have to report that to you too?”
His jaw tightened for a second before he relaxed it. “Where are you going?”
I faced forward again and continued walking. The answer stayed locked behind my teeth.
“We have an event tomorrow,” he said after a moment. “You need to come with me.”
“I do not want to go.”
“You know you have to, Luciana.” His voice stayed calm and controlled. “We cannot continue like this. It is not what you think.”
I stopped again. This time I fully turned to him. “I know what I heard, Roman.”
“You did not even give me a chance to explain.”
I said nothing. Words felt dangerous. One wrong sentence and something would crack open.
The garage doors came into view. Relief brushed against my chest. The conversation was almost over.
“I got you some chocolate milk,” he said suddenly. “I was going to bring it to the room earlier before you came to my study.”
I stopped so fast my foot slid slightly on the floor. I turned slowly and stared at him.
Chocolate milk. That was his move.
“Do you think chocolate milk is enough as an apology?” I asked, voice sharp. “I do not even want your apology.”
“Luci,” he said, frustration threading through his tone, “I do not even know what I am apologizing for. You do not know the truth.”
“Oh,” I scoffed. “The truth.”
He stepped closer and took my hands. “Please,” he said quietly. “Listen to me.”
I should have pulled away. I knew that. Instead I stood there, frozen, staring into his green eyes. They were darker than usual, restless, like something inside him refused to stay still.
Matteo’s voice echoed faintly in my head. "Give him a chance."
Not now.
“I need to go,” I said, gently freeing my hands from his grip.
He nodded once and signaled to the guard. The car door opened. He told the driver to take me out.
I wanted to argue, but refusing would mean more words, more exchanged looks and more chances to lose control. I slid into the car and closed the door.
The silence followed me all the way back.
\----
Later that evening, I returned to the room and found a box placed neatly on the bed. Beside it sat a carton of chocolate milk. On top was a note written in his sharp handwriting.
_Wear this to the party tomorrow. Black is my favorite color._
I opened the box.
The dress inside was black and elegant, simple in a way that whispered money without screaming it. I shook my head and laughed softly.
So this was his plan. Chocolate milk and expensive fabric. He knows I like luxury items.
Funny man.
••Roman••
The house buzzed with voices and glasses clinking, music humming just loud enough to fill the spaces where silence might sneak in. I sat beside Theo, pretending to care about the whole set up my family has arranged. Today I've been given the duty, that nothing must go wrong. It has always been like that, but my eyes betrayed me.
They kept drifting to the staircase.
“She will come,” Theo muttered without looking at me.
He caught me. “She might not,” I replied.
He smirked. “She wore the dress. I already know.”
I stood to greet a man I barely registered, offered polite words, nodded at the right moments. Then I noticed the man's gaze was away from me and fixed on the other side. Likewise few other people close to where we were standing had their gaze fixed in that direction. I turned to look too and my eyes caught Luci walking down the stairs.
It felt like the world slqediand everything around me just stopped.
She wore the black dress.
Oh hell! She's so damn gorgeous.
My breath left me before I could stop it. Everything about her commanded attention without asking for it. She moved like she belonged everywhere she stepped. The room noticed her instantly. All heads turned to look at her.
I excused myself from the man and crossed the room just as she reached the bottom step.
“Damn,” I said before I could think better of it.
She met my gaze, calm and unreadable.
“You look stunning,” I added.
She said nothing, eyes scanning the hall like I was just another decoration.
“You wore the dress,” I said, surprised by how much that mattered.
“I did,” she replied. “So you really thought chocolate milk would work as a bribe?”
I blinked. “Bribe?”
Her lips curved slightly. “That is whatever it felt like.”
“That was not my intention,” I said honestly.
“What is this party for?” she asked.
“My parents’ anniversary.”
“Nice,” she said nodding her head
She turned back to me. “I am still waiting for the explanation.”
I inhaled slowly. This place was not ideal to say the words, but her willingness to listen felt fragile. As if it's temporary and could change any time.
“Okay,” I said. “It started when I overheard my father—”
“Signor Roman.” Vikoz’s voice cut through the moment like a blade.
Luci and I turned at the same time.
“What?” I asked.
“Your father requests your presence immediately,” Vikoz said. “You are to leave for Italy with Theo. No delays.”
The weight of his words settled heavy in my chest. Why now? This would have been the best chance to settle things out.
"Where's he?' I asked Vikoz.
"His office." He answered and turned away.
I looked back at Luci, she already knows I'll have to leave but how do I tell her without hurting her?
Her eyes narrowed. “So you dragged me to an event just to leave me alone?”
“I did not plan this,” I said.
She crossed her arms. “Go. I will enjoy myself.”
I could hear the lie in her voice.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." I said. "With my explanation."
She just nodded in affirmation.
Still, I turned and left. If Father requests to leave his anniversary it must be something of utmost importance. He'd always mandated us to be available for it no matter what.
As I walked away, I felt her gaze piercing my skin. She's still sure looking in my direction. I hope to see her soon.