Chapter 21: Her Tricks
The clink of wine glasses and the murmur of soft giggles filled the air, but I was only half-listening.
I lounged on the velvet couch like it was my throne, surrounded by my girls—Camilla, Rosetta, and Julia—each of them buzzing with curiosity and thinly veiled amusement. They knew something was up. They could smell it on me like perfume. The smugness. The satisfaction.
But he?
He stood across the room, perfectly still.
Like always.
Fucking Alessandro.
Leaning against the far wall in that stupid fitted shirt that clung to his muscles like a second skin, arms crossed, expression unreadable, face carved in stone.
A Greek tragedy with a jawline that could cut glass.
And not a single twitch. Not a single crack. Not a goddamn blink that gave away anything.
Which pissed me off more than I could admit.
He’d seen the video—I know he had. I sent it directly to his phone. I know he opened it.
And yet, this morning?
Nothing.
Not even a sideways glance.
He’d greeted me with the same cold nod and that same emotionless face, like he hadn’t watched me writhe and moan with my legs spread for him like an invitation.
I’d expected him to snap. To lose his cool. Maybe even yell. Or something.
But Alessandro had just looked at me like I was a duty. Like I wasn’t a girl who'd made herself cum for him to watch.
Fucking ice cube.
And now, hours later, he was still here. Still standing. Still pretending like nothing happened while I drank my second glass of wine and tried not to explode with rage and lust.
Rosetta leaned over, her honey-brown curls brushing my shoulder. “Okay, Aria, what the hell’s going on with you? You’ve been smirking like you just lit something on fire.”
I smiled into my glass, then took a slow sip before setting it down.
“I did something,” I said, voice lilting, syrupy.
Camilla and Julia leaned in instantly, wine forgotten.
Rosetta’s eyes widened. “What kind of something?”
I tilted my head toward the far wall and lowered my voice. “I sent him a little… gift.”
All three of them whipped around to look at Alessandro, then turned back to me with mouths hanging open.
“No,” Camilla gasped.
“Aria—” Julia started, blinking fast. “You did not.”
I just smiled.
Rosetta gaped. “You’re telling me you sent a nude to him?”
I lifted one brow. “Not a nude. A performance.”
Julia clutched her chest. “Girl! You’re fucking naughty!”
Camilla laughed, wide-eyed. “A video? Oh my god. What did he say?”
I rolled my eyes and leaned back against the couch. “Absolutely nothing.”
The girls stared at me like I’d grown a second head.
“Nothing?” Camilla repeated.
“Nothing,” I said with a huff, swirling the last of my wine. “Just stood there this morning like I hadn’t sent him a private screening of my greatest hits.”
Rosetta snorted into her glass. “Either he’s gay, or he’s dead.”
“He’s not gay,” Julia muttered, eyes traveling back to him. “Not with muscles like that. And those tattoos? God, he looks like a god.”
Camilla sighed. “I’d climb him like a tree.”
I shot her a look. “He’s mine to mess with.”
Julia laughed. “Relax, babe. You already sent him porn starring you—think you’ve marked your territory.”
I couldn’t help but smile at that. Still, deep down, it bothered me. I wanted him rattled. I wanted him restless. I wanted to break that ironclad control he held like armor. But he was still standing there, cool and unaffected, like my orgasm hadn’t echoed in his ears all night.
The bastard.
Julia leaned forward again. “Hey, have you guys heard about Club Dagger?”
Rosetta perked up. “The one that just opened near the marina?”
“Yup.” Julia’s eyes sparkled. “It’s supposed to be wild. Like private booths, live dancers, exclusive VIP rooms—crazy energy.”
“I heard it’s invite-only,” Camilla said.
Julia smirked. “I have an in.”
I straightened a little, instantly intrigued. “So what are we waiting for?”
Rosetta turned to me. “How are you going to get out with him over there guarding you like a damn Doberman?”
My face twisted. I hated being reminded of that. I hated being caged. Especially by someone like him.
But then… I remembered.
Six months.
That was the deal I made with my father. Six months of playing nice. Six months of being watched, suffocated, guarded by a man I didn’t ask for.
And then?
He’d be gone.
Alessandro would disappear like smoke, and I could breathe again.
But something inside me… something rebellious and dark and itching for chaos… didn’t want to wait six months.
I could slip out.
He wouldn’t even know.
I just had to be stubborn once. Just one time. And after that, I’d go back to being daddy’s good girl.
Just one night of freedom.
I leaned forward, lowering my voice so only my girls could hear. “Tonight. Midnight. Secret tunnel.”
Camilla blinked. “You sure about this?”
“Trust me,” I whispered. “I know every hallway in this house. Every camera. Every blind spot. I can get out without being seen.”
Rosetta’s mouth curved into a devilish smile. “Now this is getting fun.”
Julia giggled. “Aria fucking Moretti, always raising the stakes.”
“Are we in or not?”
Camilla raised her glass. “In.”
Rosetta clinked hers against mine. “Hell yes.”
Julia grinned. “Let’s make him sweat.”
We drank to that. And the moment the glass hit my lips, my eyes slid back to him.
Alessandro stood exactly where I’d left him.
Unmoving.
Unbothered.
Unbreakable.
But something in his jaw tightened—slightly—when our eyes met. A flicker. Barely there. But I saw it.
Maybe he had seen the video.
Maybe he was cracking.
Good.
Because if he thought I was done… he had no idea what was coming.
I drained my wine, the burn of it making me feel alive, powerful, dangerous.
He wasn’t going to win this.
No.
This was my game.
And in my game?
I never lose.
I set the glass down, ignoring the flutter in my chest when his eyes locked with mine again. A challenge passed between us—silent, sharp, undeniable.
He wasn’t going to crack?
Fine.
I’d shatter him.
And use every dirty trick in my arsenal to do it.
Because why not?
Why not make him suffer a little?
Why not play with him until those six months were up?
Why not…
Use him.
Until there was nothing left to use.