Alessia Bellini slipped the signed contract back across the conference table and offered the executives a polite smile that carried the quiet confidence of someone who knew she'd done her job well.
The room, which had been tense for nearly four hours, finally relaxed as handshakes were exchanged between both companies.
One of the Italian directors stood and adjusted his suit before turning to her. "Ms. Bellini," he said warmly, "I've worked with translators from London, Paris, and Tokyo, but I must admit, none of them made today's negotiations this effortless. You have an incredible gift." Alessia felt a faint warmth creep into her cheeks and laughed softly. "I'll take that as the highest compliment. Thank you."
Another executive extended an envelope toward her. "Your balance, along with a little bonus from both companies. We couldn't have closed this deal without you." She accepted it with genuine gratitude. "Then I'm glad I could help."
By the time she returned to the Grand Imperiale Hotel, the weight that had sat on her shoulders for days had finally disappeared. She approached the reception desk, where the young receptionist greeted her almost immediately.
"Welcome back, Ms. Bellini. I trust the meeting went well?"
"It did," Alessia replied, resting one elbow on the polished counter. "Better than expected, actually."
"I'm not surprised." The receptionist smiled knowingly as she handed over the room key. "Your clients called ahead. They couldn't stop praising you."
Alessia let out an amused sigh. "Now you're both trying to make me blush."
"It seems to be working."
They shared a laugh before the receptionist glanced at her computer screen. "I see your flight is tomorrow afternoon."
"Thankfully. If they'd booked me on tonight's flight, I would've cried."
The receptionist chuckled. "Then you're lucky. Most of our guests spend their final evening at the rooftop lounge or the spa. I'd recommend both."
"I'll think about it."
"You should. Milan is much prettier after sunset."
Alessia thanked her and headed upstairs, already looking forward to doing absolutely nothing for the rest of the evening. That was the strange thing about her job. She loved languages, loved travelling, loved watching impossible conversations somehow become possible because she happened to understand both sides. But once the meetings ended and the clients disappeared, the silence always felt louder than it should.
She had barely stepped into her suite when her phone began vibrating across the bed.
Sophia.
A smile spread across her face before she answered.
"If you're calling to ask whether I survived, the answer is yes."
"Oh, I knew you'd survive," Sophia replied dramatically. "My concern is whether you're wasting another beautiful city by hiding in your hotel room."
Alessia laughed as she kicked off her heels. "I've only been back for five minutes."
"And you've probably already changed into pajamas."
"I was actually considering it."
"You are impossible."
"I prefer disciplined."
"No," Sophia corrected with a snort. "You're twenty-four years old with the social life of my grandmother."
Alessia burst into laughter, shaking her head as she walked toward the wardrobe. "That's harsh."
"It's accurate."
She opened her suitcase and pulled out a black satin dress she had packed at the last minute.
"There," she said triumphantly. "Happy?"
Sophia gasped dramatically. "You're wearing the black dress?"
"I might."
"Oh my goodness... somebody record this historic moment."
"Don't get carried away."
"I'm serious, Alessia. Go downstairs. Have dinner. Meet people. Flirt if someone catches your eye. You travel all over Europe and somehow come back with nothing except invoices."
Alessia rolled her eyes, but the smile never left her face. "You make me sound boring."
"You are boring."
"I'll remember you said that."
"Good. Now promise me you won't spend your last night watching documentaries in bed."
"...Fine," Alessia surrendered, laughing. "I promise."
Only after the call ended did she realize how badly she needed an evening that wasn't scheduled down to the minute. Maybe Sophia was right. Just this once, she could stop being the responsible translator and simply enjoy herself.
Thirty minutes later, dressed in the elegant black dress with her hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders, Alessia stepped out of the elevator onto the rooftop level.
She had barely taken two steps when she noticed a sudden change in the atmosphere.
Conversations lowered.
Several men in black suits appeared almost out of nowhere, discreetly taking positions near the private entrance.
Then the elevator doors behind them opened.
Someone had arrived.
Without meaning to, Alessia looked up...
...and found a pair of piercing dark eyes already looking straight at her, for a brief moment, neither of them looked away.
Alessia was the first to recover, offering the stranger a small, almost embarrassed smile before turning toward the bar. *Get a grip, Bellini,* she scolded herself silently. *He's just another ridiculously attractive man in an expensive suit.*
She had barely settled onto a stool when the bartender placed a menu before her.
"What can I get for you, ma'am?" the bartender asked politely.
"I'm still deciding," Alessia replied with a smile.
"Then perhaps I can help."
The deep masculine voice came from beside her.
She turned.
It was him.
The stranger slipped onto the empty seat next to hers with effortless confidence. Up close, he was even more striking, yet there wasn't a trace of arrogance in his expression. Instead, there was quiet amusement, as though he'd caught her staring earlier and intended to tease her about it.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," he said, meeting her gaze.
"You might be," Alessia answered, folding the menu closed. "I haven't decided yet."
A faint smile curved his lips. "Then allow me to make it up to you. Dinner. My treat."
She raised an eyebrow. "Do you always invite complete strangers to dinner?"
"Only the ones who pretend they weren't staring at me," he replied, his smile widening.
Alessia couldn't help laughing.
"I wasn't staring," she protested, trying to sound convincing.
"No?" he asked, tilting his head with obvious amusement.
"I was... observing," Alessia corrected, trying to defend herself.
"That's somehow worse," he said with a quiet chuckle.
Their laughter blended so naturally that it surprised them both.
"I'm Massimo," he introduced himself, extending his hand.
She slipped hers into his, noticing how warm and firm his grip was.
"Alessia," she replied softly.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Alessia," Massimo said, holding her gaze for a brief moment before releasing her hand. Something about the way he said her name made it sound like he'd known it long before tonight, neither of them noticed the discreet glance exchanged by the men watching from a distance.
The evening had only just begun.
