Chapter 13 Fluttering Heart

At the Studio The photo-shoot for the magazine promotion was scheduled for two o’clock that afternoon. Antonio, having finished his work at the office, headed directly to the studio. His sharp gaze scanned the room for Rose, but she was nowhere to be seen. “Mr. Sofph!” A familiar voice called out. Antonio turned to see Acia, a well-known model who had worked with him before. “Acia,” he acknowledged, his tone indifferent. “Do you know how much you’ve hurt me?” Acia said in a pained voice, trying to garner sympathy. “Why did you replace me with some random woman for the auction? What did I do wrong?” “Is that so?” Antonio replied curtly, showing no interest in her emotional display. The slight frown on his face spoke volumes about his irritation. Acia bit her lip, her frustration tangible, though she forced a sweet smile to mask her anger. “Where’s Rose?” Antonio asked, cutting straight to the point. “I don’t know,” Acia lied, though she knew exactly where Rose was. “Why do you even care about her?” Antonio didn’t bother answering. Without another word, he walked past her, leaving Acia fuming in place. She glared at his retreating figure, jealousy burning inside her as she stomped out of the room. Antonio entered the dressing room and found Rose standing with her back to him, surrounded by makeup artists and stylists. He raised a hand, silently signaling for the crew to leave. “How are you doing?” Antonio’s smooth, low voice startled Rose. She spun, her eyes wide with surprise. “When did you get here?” “Just now,” he replied casually. “Oh,” she murmured, lowering her gaze to avoid his penetrating stare. “I’ll wait for you to finish. Afterward, we’ll have dinner together,” Antonio said as he reached out to gently brush a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’ll be waiting,” he added, his words carrying an unspoken meaning that made her heart skip a beat. Rose forced a smile, her cheeks flushing as she looked away. “Rose, we’re ready for you!” a woman called out, interrupting the moment. Antonio stepped back, his expression neutral once again, as he exited the room. Rose followed shortly after, her heart still fluttering from their exchange. Antonio watched the photo-shoot in silence. The set featured a luxurious black sofa, which contrasted beautifully with the flowing white gown Rose wore. Yet she seemed hesitant, clearly uncomfortable as she tried to pose for the camera. “See? She has no idea what she’s doing. You shouldn’t have chosen her for such an important event,” Acia said bitterly, standing nearby with her arms crossed. Her eyes flashed with disdain as she watched Rose. “You’re jealous,” Antonio said flatly, his eyes never leaving Rose. Under the lights, surrounded by the carefully staged set, she looked every bit the ethereal princess. “Jealous? Why would I be jealous of her? She’s nothing special,” Acia scoffed, though her voice betrayed her insecurity. Deep down, she knew the truth—if Rose succeeded, her own position as the studio’s top model would be threatened. “But I like her,” Antonio said coolly. Acia clenched her fists, forcing herself to smile through her anger. “Whatever you say,” she muttered before storming off. The sight of Rose being admired by Antonio was more than she could bear. The shoot continued for over three hours, finally wrapping up smoothly. Antonio returned to the dressing room as Rose was packing up her things. “Are you tired?” he asked. Rose looked up, surprised to see him there. “No, not really.” “Good. Let’s go—I’m starving,” Antonio said matter-of-factly. “Dinner? With you?” Rose asked hesitantly. “What’s the problem? Haven’t we been eating together every day?” Antonio replied, his tone firm. Since her arrival in Italy, they had shared meals almost every evening at the mansion. It had become a routine—one that Antonio found himself surprisingly attached to. “It’s just that… I heard people say you never eat with anyone other than your… girlfriend. I don’t want anyone to misunderstand,” Rose said softly, avoiding his gaze. Antonio’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Let them think what they want.” “But…” “You think only girlfriends can eat with me?” he asked, his voice suddenly serious. “Well, that’s what everyone says,” she replied honestly. Antonio sighed, stepping closer to her. “Then be my girlfriend,” he said bluntly. “That way, we can have dinner together every night.” Rose froze, staring at him in shock. “What?” “Now let’s go. I’m hungry,” Antonio said, turning to leave the room as if his proposal had been the most natural thing in the world. Rose remained rooted in place, her heart racing. Had he really just said that? She was too stunned to respond, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and… something else. What did he mean by that? Was he serious? Finally, snapping out of her daze, she grabbed her bag and hurried after him. Her face was flushed, her heart still thudding wildly as she followed Antonio out of the studio. Deep down, Rose couldn’t deny it—there was a part of her that had started to soften toward the enigmatic mafia boss. And that realization scared her more than anything else.