With the deal finalized and my flight set for later in the evening, I make my way to Aurora's office for a final lunch before I leave. Her office is situated in a sleek, modern building, its glass facade gleaming under the Sicilian sun. As I step inside, the cool air offers a welcome relief from the warmth outside, and the sound of my shoes tapping against the polished marble floors echoes in the airy lobby. The receptionist greets me with a warm smile. She kindly directs me to the 66th floor, where Aurora's office awaits.

The elevator zooms upward and dings open to reveal Aurora's office. I knock gently before letting myself in.

"Hey there," I greet her with a smile as I step into her office.

"Babe, you're here!" She exclaims, though her smile seems tired. Papers are strewn across her desk haphazardly.

"I thought you said you were ready," I remark, standing before her desk.

Aurora sighs, rubbing her temples. "I was, but then Stefano's secretary went into early labor. With the replacement not starting until tomorrow, I'm swamped."

"Shit," I murmur sympathetically. "I hope the baby's okay?"

"Baby's fine, but I'm losing my mind!" Aurora admits with an anxious laugh.

Here is my attempt to add more vivid details:

Aurora stops going through the papers in front of her and glances up at me, a sly grin spreading across her face. I know that look all too well - she's about to ask me for a favor.

I hold up my hand before she can even open her mouth. "No, no way, absolutely not!" I say firmly, though I can't help but smile.

"Oh, come on, please!" Aurora begs, her beautiful blue eyes pleading with me as she leans forward across her desk.

I cross my arms and shake my head. "Don't even try it. I know exactly what you're going to ask."

"Pretty please?" she says, pouting dramatically. "I'm totally desperate here!"

I have to laugh at her exaggerated expression. Still, I won't cave so easily.

"Nope, you can bat those eyelashes all you want, but it won't work this time," I tease.

Aurora collapses back in her chair with an exaggerated huff, still grinning. "Fine, be that way," she says in a silly mocking tone, though I can tell she's not really upset with me. Still, I know it's only a matter of time before I give in - I can never say no to my best friend for long.

"Alright, alright. What do you need me to help with?" I say reluctantly, running a hand through my hair.

Aurora's face lights up. "Really? You're the best!"

I roll my eyes playfully. "Don't get too excited. I haven't agreed yet."

"I know, I know. But with your office admin degree, you're perfect to help get through some of this paperwork nightmare," Aurora says, gesturing in exasperation at the haphazard piles covering her desk.

"Fine," I sigh, hoping I won't regret this sacrifice of my last day in Sicily. "What specifically needs doing?"

"Mostly just filing, emailing clients with updates, maybe helping draft a few letters. Boring stuff, but it's really adding up this afternoon his secretary gone." Aurora moves around her desk and grabs her phone. "Let me call my assistant to bring a laptop for you. And Andrea, thank you again, truly. I owe you big time!"

I laugh as she squeezes my shoulder affectionately before dialing her assistant. At least I can ensure we still get lunch at our favorite cafe later. Aurora may owe me, but helping my best friend is worth it.

After several hours of helping Aurora plow through her mountain of paperwork, I'm bleary-eyed but feel good about making a dent in it. She thanks me profusely as I hand back the stack of proofread documents.

"These are actually for Stefano - could you take them to his office for me?" she asks.

I'm surprised when Aurora asks me to deliver the documents to Stefano's office, but I agree to do it. Looking it as an opportunity to see him one last time before I leave Sicily.

I don't think my lunch date with Aurora is still going to happen now with how busy she is, so I text Santiago to change our flight to tomorrow morning instead, freeing up tonight so I can at least have dinner with her.

My stomach is in knots in the elevator riding up to Stefano's floor. Things didn't go well the last time I saw him, but I hope the same doesn't happen today. I want to leave on good terms with him even though given he hates me makes that almost impossible, but a girl can dream.

Approaching his office, I pause to take a steadying breath before knocking sharply on the solid wood door. A deep, husky voice calls out, "Come in."

I turn the brass knob and push open the heavy door. Stefano sits at a massive mahogany desk, phone to his ear, an intense expression on his chiseled features. He holds up a finger, indicating for me to wait.

I linger awkwardly, admiring Stefano's sleek office décor and stylish suit that likely costs a fortune. Though he seems stressed, it doesn't detract from his attractiveness in my eyes.

Finally, off his call, he leans back and runs his gaze over me. "What brings you to my office, Andrea?" he asks coolly.

"I have some documents from Aurora for you," I explain, placing them on his desk.

He picks them up and flips through them briefly before his beautiful blue eyes flick up to meet mine. "Who proofread these?"

" I did," I reply, holding his gaze.

A hint of surprise crosses his handsome features before his expression turns impassive again. "Hmm, so you actually have some useful skills now. I'll be damned."

I bristle slightly at his condescending remark. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Before he can reply, my phone suddenly rings. I glance down - it's Santiago calling me back, probably about changing our flights.

"I have to take this; it's important," I say briskly, turning toward the door. "Goodbye, Stefano."

"We're not finished here," he states firmly, an edge to his voice now.

I pause, looking back at him. His jaw is tensed, and his piercing blue eyes blaze with an emotion I can't quite place. Anger? Or something more complex?

"I really need to go," I reply evenly. "We can continue this riveting conversation another day."

With that, I exit his office swiftly, answering the call from Santiago as I go, leaving behind a lingering tension that hangs in the air like an unspoken promise of things to come.

***

Later that night, Aurora and I head out for dinner to make up for our missed lunch date. We've just placed our orders, and as we wait for our food to arrive, the gentle hum of conversation fills the air, punctuated by the clink of silverware and the occasional burst of laughter. Aurora's question pulls me back into the present, prompting me to recount my visit to Stefano's office earlier in the day.

"What took you so long at his office earlier?" she asks as she takes a sip of her wine.

"He was on a call, so I had to wait for him to finish before I could drop off the documents and leave," I explain.

"Phew. I was worried he had a problem with the work you did," Aurora admits, her relief evident.

I shake my head. "Nope, everything was fine," I reply, choosing not to mention his little back-end comment about me."

"Speak of the devil," Aurora suddenly says, waving behind me. I turn to see Stefano approaching our table with a tall, handsome guy. His appearance has changed since our earlier encounter; his tie is absent, and his shirt is slightly disheveled. Despite the signs of exhaustion that linger in the lines of his face, there's an undeniable magnetism to his presence, a raw allure that sets my pulse racing.

As he draws nearer, I can't help but notice the subtle changes in his demeanor, the weariness of the day etched into every line of his expression. And yet, there's a quiet strength in the way he carries himself, a resilience that speaks volumes about the man he is.

I brace myself for the inevitable exchange, curious to see how the evening will unfold with Stefano's unexpected arrival at our table. Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain—this dinner just got a whole lot more interesting.

"Hi, Aurora," he greets her, his voice carrying a hint of weariness.

"Hey, Stefano. How are you?" Aurora responds, concern flickering in her eyes.

"I'm good, and you, Sis?" he replies, acknowledging her fatigue.

"A bit tired from work, but I'm sure you know that."

"I do, and I'm sure you remember David," Stefano says, barely acknowledging my presence.

"Of course, are you guys already done eating, or did you just get here?"

"We just arrived," Stefano responds curtly.

"Great. Why don't you join us? We just ordered our food," Aurora suggests.

"I don't think that will be necessary, Aurora," Stefano declines, his reluctance palpable.

"I insist. Having more people to talk to while we eat would be nice. Don't you think so, Andrea?" Aurora presses, casting a glance in my direction.

"Sure, why not," I agree casually, though his apparent disregard for my presence doesn't go unnoticed.

"It's not a bad idea," David chimes in.

"Alright, I guess we could all eat together," Stefano concedes, though his tone suggests he's less than thrilled about the arrangement.

"Great, David, why don't you join me here while Stefano sits beside Andrea," Aurora suggests, motioning for David to take the seat beside her.

"Ok, sure," David agrees, walking over to the seat next to her while Stefano settles beside me.

"Good, I'll call the waiter so you guys can order your food," Aurora says, signaling the waiter to come over to our table.

They both place their orders before Aurora initiates a conversation with us.

"So, Stefano, Andrea was just telling me how pleased you were with the work she did earlier. Did you know she has a Master's in Business Management? She would have been an excellent secretary; too bad she does not live in Sicily."

Stefano's response is cutting, his words dripping with disdain as he dismisses the idea outright. "I did not say so, and I doubt she would be good for the job."

I bristle at his dismissive attitude, feeling a surge of anger rise within me. "Excuse me, how would you know if I would be good or bad at the job?"

"Given how you behaved earlier in my office, it's enough for me to know you would be horrible," Stefano retorts, his tone laced with thinly veiled contempt.

I rack my brain, trying to recall my behavior. "How did I behave in your office?"

"You left before our conversation was finished," Stefano replies curtly, his gaze piercing as he locks eyes with mine.

I gape at him in disbelief. Over that trivial incident, he has concluded I'd be an awful secretary? I let out a short, scornful laugh. "Unbelievable."

"Regardless, you failed to impress me with the chance you had," he adds haughtily.

I shake my head, anger surging through me. "I was not trying to impress you, and I would not be your secretary even if you begged me." I hold his gaze defiantly.

Suddenly, Stefano leans in close, his presence overwhelming as he draws near. I can feel the heat radiating from his body, his spicy cologne filling the space between us and sending my senses reeling. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing loudly in the silence that surrounds us. His eyes, intense and penetrating, lock onto mine, holding me captive in their gaze.

"I would never hire you even if I was paid to do it," he hisses venomously. Though his words sting, I'm distracted by his nearness, my body reacting in ways I try to ignore.

I part my lips to reply when I'm abruptly engulfed by the sudden force of Stefano's embrace. The world seems to spin around me as I'm pressed against his solid chest, the warmth of his body seeping into mine with an intensity that leaves me breathless. It's a stark contrast to the icy chill of his words moments before.

In the chaos of the moment, there's a sudden crash and the tinkling sound of shattered glass beside me. My senses whirl as I try to grasp what's happening.

"Are you alright?" he asks urgently, pulling back just far enough to scan my body for injuries, his hands gently grasping my face, concern etched into every line of his face.

"I'm okay," I whisper breathlessly, stunned by his swift reaction.

Relief floods Stefano's features, evident in the softening of his expression. His thumb briefly caresses my cheekbone before he drops his hands. "Good," he says simply, releasing me, his warmth slipping away.

Aurora's voice breaks through the haze of my thoughts, her concern evident. "Are you okay?" I nod in response, still trying to process the events that had unfolded so suddenly.

My gaze flicks over to Stefano as he rises to his feet, glaring at someone behind me. I turn to see a petrified waiter behind me, surrounded by the wreckage of broken dishes and spilled soup. Stefano had shielded me from the impact. I exhale a silent breath of relief, grateful for Stefano's quick reflexes.

Fury darkens Stefano's expression as he towers over the cowering waiter. "What the hell were you thinking? You could have severely burned her!"

The waiter stammers out an apology, his voice trembling under Stefano's piercing gaze. "I'm so sorry, sir," he manages to utter, his words barely audible above the tension-filled air.

Stefano's eyes narrow, his expression darkening as he delivers a chilling ultimatum. "Get the fuck out of here before I empty a round into your brain," he threatens, his voice dripping with lethal intent.

He grasps my hand firmly. "We're leaving. I don't feel like eating in a fucking restaurant you could get hurt in."

Stefano pulls me away from the table before I can protest and he leads me out of the restaurant. I turn back to glance at Aurora, a questioning look in my eyes, but she merely shrugs in response. It's clear that she's just as bewildered by the events that transpired as I am.

We step outside, and we're greeted by the cool night air, a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the restaurant. I cast a quick glance around, waiting for the valet to retrieve Stefano's car. The seconds feel like an eternity as we stand in silence, the weight of the evening's events still hanging heavily in the air.

Finally, the car pulls up, and Stefano wastes no time in ushering me inside. As we speed away from the restaurant, I find myself staring at him, my mind buzzing with a whirlwind of questions and confusion.

What had just happened back there? The confrontation with the waiter, Stefano's fierce protectiveness... It all seemed to unfold so suddenly, leaving me bewildered and uncertain of how to process it all.

With each passing moment, the confusion intensifies, fueling the torrent of thoughts racing through my mind as we journey back to the Costanzo estate. All I can do is gaze at Stefano and ponder: what the fuck just happened?