Two weeks later, The charity event was in full swing, the elegant hall filled with the clinking of glasses and the low murmur of power being traded between the city's elite. Angela's presence was unnoticed, just another face among the waitstaff. Her hair was pulled tightly into a sleek bun, every strand in place. The plain black waitress uniform clung to her form, and though it was a far cry from the luxurious gowns around her, she carried herself with the same quiet confidence.
She weaved through the crowd with practiced ease, her tray heavy with drinks that needed to be served. Her eyes flicked across the guests, dangerous men with expensive suits, women dripping in jewels, all of them carrying the air of power and wealth. None of them mattered. None of them were her focus.
She was searching for one man.
Matteo de Luca.
Angela's heart raced as she moved through the crowd, pretending to listen to the chatter around her while her gaze skimmed over the guests.
And then.., she saw him. Her breath catching in her throat. He stood under a tree near the edge of the terrace, isolated from the others. His blue eyes were locked on her, his posture relaxed but commanding, his gaze never leaving her as if he were waiting for something.
The moment their eyes met, a shiver ran down her spine. He was studying her, the intensity of his stare like a physical touch. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and it was a smile that held more than mere recognition. It was the kind of smile one wasn't supposed to return.
Angela felt the pull, the undeniable tension that surged between them, but she forced herself to look away, pretending she hadn't seen him, that he hadn't noticed her.
Her fingers tightened around the tray, her mind spinning.
But then, a voice, smooth and velvet, cut through the distance between them.
"Leaving so soon?"
Angela froze, her breath hitching in her throat. Matteo was already moving toward her, his tall form cutting through the crowd effortlessly, his eyes still on her with that knowing look.
"I'm just here to serve drinks," she said, the words tumbling out a little too quickly, a defensive edge in her tone.
Matteo's smile only deepened, a flash of something dangerous behind it. "Such a shame."
She frowned, trying to mask her discomfort with a sharp gaze. "Excuse me?"
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, the air between them charged. "Such a pretty face like you... You're meant to be kept around Principessa."
Angela's heart skipped a beat, confusion and intrigue battling inside her. "I don't know what you mean."
Matteo's smile didn't waver, He was breathtakingly handsome, but there was something colder in his eyes now. "I think you do."
The weight of his words pressed down on her, but before she could respond, he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower, as if the words were meant for her ears alone. "I'll see you around?"
Her pulse quickened. The realization hit her like a punch to the stomach. Matteo didn't just notice her, he had spoken her.
That night, as Angela made her way home, she noticed a sleek black car parked outside her building. She paused for a moment, letting out a heavy sigh, then walked toward it. Her steps were slow, as if she could already sense the weight of what was to come.
Standing outside the car, waiting for her, was the man she had been working for. He was a figure she had learned to fear, yet also depend on. His cold eyes studied her as she approached, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Job well done?" he asked, his brows raised slightly, a challenge hidden in his tone.
Angela nodded, trying to maintain her composure. "He noticed me... and even spoke to me."
The man's smirk widened as he stepped forward, pulling out a thick envelope of cash from inside his coat. He held it out to her with a single motion. "For your brother's medical bills. Once you finish this job, I'll clear all his debts—and pay for his surgery. The car will pick you up tomorrow and take you there."
Angela's hands shook slightly as she took the money, her fingers clenching around the stack of bills. She didn't dare show weakness. Not now.
His gaze turned sharper, more deliberate. "This time, make sure you don't just talk to him. Get close to him. I want you to make an impression, Angela. You need to be more than just a face in the crowd."
She nodded, the weight of the task settling deep within her. "I understand."
Without another word, the man turned and slid into the car, the doors shutting with a soft thud. The car sped off, disappearing into the night, leaving Angela standing alone on the pavement.
She took a long breath, her heart heavy. Her sister had called earlier to tell her that Jace had been discharged for now, that he was stable. At least for a little while. Angela's mind raced as she clutched the money in her hand. She had to do this. For Jace. For his future.
But the pressure, the cost of everything, it was suffocating.
She stared at the envelope, the cash feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds, then looked up at the dark sky. The night felt endless, as did the road ahead of her. But somehow, she would save her brother. No matter what.