Page 262 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

He walked with Celeste, arms linked, through the marble foyer of the hotel with its grand, sweeping staircases and sparkling chandeliers with an eye for none of that beauty, nothing but the woman by his side. He led her through a private exit where an Italian sports car with dark tinted windows waited. Dressed as they were, on one of the most expensive streets in the world, he couldn’t risk taking Celeste out the front doors where paparazzi might lurk. He’d given her his word that he would protect her, and he would.

More and more, it was becoming something he wanted to do. Something that gave him great pleasure.

He opened the door for her, closing it once she was all settled, and rounded to the driver’s side. Ensuring that they were alone, he stepped into the car. It came to life with a loud growl before settling into an aggressive purr.

He took one more look at Celeste before easing the car onto the road, secure in the knowledge that no one would see them. But as they began driving towards the Palazzo Felce, Enzo quickly realised that it was not just being photographed that he had to worry about. He could feel Celeste’s gaze on him, burning through to the heart of him, heating his blood. He wanted to reach out and place his hand on her exposed thigh. Claim her. And it didn’t help that she seemed to be just as aware of him. Even when she turned away, it seemed like she couldn’t help looking back towards him, finally shifting in her seat, angling her body towards his. He had to fight for concentration.

‘You seem tense,’ Celeste said.

He was tense. He was trying to wrestle his want for her into something manageable. He gritted his teeth to stop himself from telling her precisely what she was doing to him without doing anything at all. He couldn’t even come up with a witty comeback.

Out the corner of his eye, he could see her fingers toying with a sequin on the edge of the slit that was going to put him in cardiac arrest.

‘Stop that,’ he said, his voice low.

‘Stop what?’

‘You know what. It’s distracting.’

He heard her chuckle to herself, sounding almost surprised, and turned to look at her as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window. It did nothing to help his out-of-control libido.

Dio!She was going to be the death of him.

‘I have a question,’ Celeste said, breaking the silence.

‘What is it?’

‘I don’t understand the issue with the vineyards. Why can’t you share ownership? I mean you and Emilio are both De Lucas. Surely you have enough power to see that they remain as you wish them to.’

Enzo would have thought that a bit of conversation would be a good thing to distract him from his thoughts, but this was the last topic he wanted to discuss. ‘It’s simple. Those vineyards, the company, the estate, are mine. They belong to the conte, and I take care of what’s mine. My brother...he will want it, take it and then do nothing with it. He’ll let it fall into ruin. That’s what he does. But this time he will know that I don’t let go of what’s mine.’ He looked at Celeste, at her frown, then back at the road, hoping she wouldn’t push further. It seemed like he always wanted to tell her more than he should. Thankfully, the gods offered him a little reprieve because just then, the grand Palazzo Felce came into view. Enzo knew what the front would be like. A red carpet extending all the way to where the cars would stop. Cameras clicking as the elite made their way inside. That wasn’t an option. He turned down a side road and parked at the back of the palazzo, where there was no one waiting but a single man in a sharp suit, just as Enzo had arranged.

He brought the car to a stop and helped Celeste out before handing the keys to the young man. He said nothing as he offered Celeste his arm. When she took it, it was as if fire licked up it. Together they walked up the stairs, and Enzo couldn’t help but feel a sense of rightness. Attending these events was something he simply had to do. Frankly, he felt more excitement going to the office each day than making these appearances. But with Celeste—as she was now—he felt powerful in a different way than he did as conte. Hewantedpeople to see her with him. He wanted to see more of her himself, because now that this woman was uncovered, he didn’t know how she’d managed to dull her shine so much that she had slipped under the radar for two years.

While it was a joy to discover the woman she really was, the fact that there was anything to uncover at all had Enzo conflicted. It was a reminder that he didn’t know Celeste. That he couldn’t truly trust her. But did that matter? He didn’t trust anyone with his thoughts, and he certainly didn’t trust anyone with his emotions anymore. He didn’t need to trust her with either tonight. He just needed her to be his PA, the woman that seemed to have the golden touch with his clients and business partners alike without realising it, despite her reserved façade.

He couldn’t allow himself to grow any attachment to her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy watching her shine. And she’d shine even more brightly if she could find the real Celeste. Be her.

And with how she’d looked and acted since leaving her room in that dress, that was already happening. Just as he knew it would.

A security guard in a dark suit with an earpiece opened the door for them, and in they stepped to a gilded world filled with so much history. But as Enzo navigated them through the maze of passages until they entered the grand ballroom, he wasn’t looking around at the splendour. He was looking only at Celeste, at the look of awe on her face. At the smile that made him weak.

Enzo had never seen a look like that on Gia’s face. She’d expected to be treated like this, to attend events like this. The expression of hers that Enzo most remembered was one of almost bored expectation.

Without realising it, Celeste had satisfied a craving he didn’t know existed until now.

‘Welcome to the Ballo del Sforza,’ he said quietly.

‘I’ve been to one ball in my life, but it was nothing like this,’ she said, looking around at the neoclassical architecture, the white walls with gold accents, the hanging chandeliers and marble floors, the waitstaff in black suits with gold masks, carrying trays of golden drinks and morsels of food that were more like bite-size works of art.

‘Come, we need to mingle.’ As much as Enzo wanted to keep watching Celeste, he always attended these events for one reason: business. He was a De Luca, and his presence was expected; there were deals to be made and hands to be shaken. Though, he wasn’t quite sure howhewould accomplish that tonight when Celeste commanded his attention.

They waded into the crowd together and started their rounds, but after the second conversation where Enzo barely took in what was said, he knew he needed a break from Celeste’s presence. He could feel the current between them crackling over his skin. He needed to get himself under control.

‘I suggest we split up,’ he said, leaning down to speak into her ear, inhaling that intoxicating perfume she always wore.

‘We’ll cover more ground that way,’ she agreed. ‘Only...’

‘Don’t worry, Celeste, there are no phones in here. As long as you don’t leave this room, you will be fine.’