Then, as if orchestrated by destiny itself, I saw her.
She stood at the entrance, and the world paused. Her dress,rich as wine, clung to her in all the right places, shimmering under the chandelier’s glow. The off-the-shoulder design framed her neck perfectly, while the thigh-high slit teased a glimpse of her leg, enhanced by gold heels.
Her braids were swooped to one side, and diamond earrings caught the light with every movement. The simple diamond necklace resting at her collarbone drew me in, while the gown whispered with each step, matching the frantic beat of my heart.
Her smoky eyes held a fire, and her deep red lips spoke a silent promise. Her skin glowed, radiating a beauty so perfect it felt unreal.
Seeing her like this, so breathtakingly beautiful, my knees nearly gave out. The room around me faded into oblivion as my entire being gravitated toward her. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing with the realization of how deeply she affected me. Every inch of her, from the gentle curve of her hips to the confident way she held herself, spoke volumes of the woman she had become—the woman I had fallen irrevocably in love with years ago and the one who still held my heart in her palms.
“Nina,” I whispered to myself, the word barely escaping my lips as I made my way toward her.
I walked over to her, each step bringing me closer to the intoxicating aura she exuded. “Nina,” I greeted her, my voice betraying the mixture of awe and longing I felt. “Sei fottutamente splendida.53”
Her million-dollar smile appeared. “Thank you, Ronan. You clean up nicely, yourself.”
“I’d like to think I look better than that.”
“Can’t confirm or deny,” she teased.
“Can’t or won’t?”
“We’ll never know.”
My eyes continued to study her as I got an up-close view of herdress, only now realizing that there was a patterned fabric on top of the red I saw.
“You designed this?”
“Cosa?”
“Your dress.”
She nodded, smoothly brushing her hand over the fabric. “I did.”
“It is absolutely beautiful. You’re stunning and talented.”
“Grazie.”
I led her to a seat, but a group of women in the industry called her over. I hated seeing her go, but this was her passion, and there was nothing I loved more than seeing her thrive in her element.
A waiter was passing, and I swiftly grabbed the bottle of champagne before I made my way to the table where my dearest friends sat.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Arnoldo noticed, walking over to greet me.
“Fashionably late, as always.”
“Who’s your date?” I asked him, knowing he didn’t have one, but always loved to piss him off.
“I haven’t found her yet.”
I rolled my eyes at his asshole-ness. “Why did I even ask?”
“Not sure,” he responded and sipped his drink, which I could only assume was gin.
Alexander walked over, dressed in the most fitted black tuxedo. I was so surprised to see him out so soon.
“What a surprise, Alex,” I noted.
“Ronan!” he called out, “good to see you, man. You too, Reyes.”
