Chapter 4 - Playing The Game
The morning after the gala, my face was on the front page of every society blog in the city.
The headline on Manhattan Elite read: ROSSI PATRIARCH STEPS OUT WITH SON’S STUNNING EX.
My phone hadn't stopped buzzing since 6:00 AM.
There were angry texts from Liam, furious voicemails from my mother (who always favored Amber), and twenty heart emojis from Maya.
I ignored all of them.
Instead, I sat in my kitchen, sipping tea, waiting for the guilt to set in.
But the guilt never came.
At 10:00 AM, there was a knock on my door.
I expected it to be Liam coming to beg, or Amber coming to scream.
When I opened it, I found a uniformed chauffeur holding an enormous bouquet of white orchids.
"For Miss Luna," he said respectfully, handing me a small, embossed card.
I opened the envelope.
The opening move was flawless. But a game of chess requires more than one move. Dinner tonight. 8 PM. My driver will collect you. — Nico.
I stared at the card.
The gala was supposed to be a one-time thing. A single, brutal strike to their egos.
But as I looked at the orchids, I realized Nico was right.
Liam and Amber needed to realize that this wasn't just a stunt. They needed to see that I had moved on to a completely different league.
At exactly 8:00 PM, I stepped into the back of a sleek black Maybach.
Nico took me to a private, exclusive restaurant where menus didn't have prices and the lighting was intimately dim.
He was already seated at a corner booth, looking effortlessly handsome in a dark navy suit.
"You came," he said, standing to pull out my chair.
"I didn't think I had a choice," I joked, sitting down.
"You always have a choice, Luna. But I find that we make a formidable team."
Over the next two hours, we didn't talk about Liam or Amber.
Instead, we talked about everything else.
He asked about my career in architectural design, genuinely interested in my recent projects.
I learned that beneath his ruthless business exterior, Nico was deeply passionate about art restoration and hated the superficiality of his social circle.
He was intelligent, witty, and incredibly charming.
"Why are you helping me, Nico?" I asked as dessert was served. "I'm using you to make your son miserable. Why would you agree to that?"
Nico swirled the wine in his glass, his expression turning thoughtful.
"Liam has lived a life devoid of consequences," Nico explained quietly.
"His mother shielded him from every mistake. When I saw you last night, I saw a woman who had been wronged by his cowardice."
He paused, his dark eyes locking onto mine.
"And if I'm being entirely honest... I haven't been this captivated by a woman in a very long time."
My breath hitched.
I had been so focused on the revenge plot that I hadn't let myself realize how attractive Nico truly was.
"So, what happens now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Now, we let them watch us," Nico said smoothly. "We let them see exactly what they pushed together."
For the next three weeks, we became the city's most talked-about couple.
We attended gallery openings, charity auctions, and private dinners.
Every time we were photographed, Nico's hand was firmly on my lower back, his gaze entirely focused on me.
And everywhere we went, Liam and Amber seemed to be watching from the sidelines.
Their relationship was cracking under the pressure.
Amber had thought she stole the crown prince, but she quickly realized that the king still held all the power.
Without Nico's financial backing, Liam’s allowance had been drastically cut.
Amber's dream of endless shopping sprees and high-society clout was vanishing before her eyes.
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And the best part?
I didn't even have to do anything but smile at the man sitting across from me.
