UNDECIDED (Wisemen Series #1)

8 | This Time it's You

ISABELLE
___________

A week had passed since the tumultuous night at the club, where emotions ran high and betrayal lingered heavy in the air.

Despite the passing time, the wounds from Riccardo's betrayal still festered, a constant reminder of the shattered trust between us. But rather than wallow in my pain, I resolved to take matters into my own hands-to show Riccardo just what he was missing.

As I stepped into the elegant dining room, the clink of cutlery and murmur of conversation filling the air, I felt a renewed sense of determination settle over me. Tonight, I would make Riccardo regret ever betraying me-I would show him just how easily I could move on.

I scanned the room, my eyes landing on Alessandro seated at a nearby table, his dark eyes flickering with recognition as our gazes met. With a coy smile, I made my way over to him, the sway of my hips deliberate and seductive.

"Buona sera, Alessandro," I purred, my voice low and sultry as I leaned in close to him.

Alessandro's eyes widened in surprise, a slow smile spreading across his lips as he returned my greeting. "Buona sera, bella," he replied, his voice tinged with amusement.

I took a seat beside him, the fabric of my dress brushing against his leg as I leaned in to whisper in his ear. "You know, Alessandro," I said, my breath hot against his skin. "I've been thinking about you all week."

Alessandro's grin widened, his gaze flickering with intrigue as he leaned in closer to me. "Is that so?" he murmured, his voice husky with anticipation.

I nodded, a playful glint in my eye as I toyed with the stem of my wine glass. "Oh, yes," I said, my tone teasing. "I couldn't get you out of my mind."

As we chatted, the other men at the table couldn't help but take notice of our flirtatious exchange, their eyes lingering on us with a mixture of amusement and approval. "You've picked a good one, Alessandro," one of them remarked, his voice carrying across the table.

I smiled, a sense of satisfaction blooming within me as I glanced over at Riccardo, who sat across the room, his jaw clenched with barely concealed jealousy. It was a small victory, but in that moment, it felt like enough-a fleeting taste of retribution for the pain he had caused me.

And as the evening wore on, I reveled in the attention lavished upon me, knowing that every flirtatious smile and whispered word served as a reminder to Riccardo of what he had lost. For tonight, at least, I was in control-and I intended to make the most of it.

As the evening progressed, I found myself drawn deeper into the charade, relishing in the attention Alessandro lavished upon me.

With each flirtatious glance and playful exchange, I felt a sense of empowerment wash over me, a sharp contrast to the pain and betrayal that still lingered in the recesses of my heart.

Yet, amidst the laughter and camaraderie, I couldn't shake the feeling of Riccardo's eyes burning into my back, his jealousy palpable even from across the room. It was a dangerous game we played-one fueled by hurt and resentment, yet tinged with an undeniable undercurrent of desire.

But as the night wore on, the facade began to crack, the weight of our tangled emotions threatening to pull us under. And when Alessandro excused himself to take a call, leaving me alone at the table, I found myself caught in the crossfire of Riccardo's simmering anger.

He approached me with purpose, his jaw clenched and eyes ablaze with a fire I hadn't seen before. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Belle?" he demanded, his voice low and seething with barely contained fury.

I met his gaze head-on, refusing to back down in the face of his wrath. "I'm doing exactly what you did, Riccardo," I shot back, my tone laced with defiance. "I'm moving on."

Riccardo's expression softened for a moment, a flicker of regret passing across his features. "Belle, you know it's not like that," he began, his voice pleading.

But I held up a hand, cutting him off before he could finish. "Save it, Riccardo," I said, my voice cold and unyielding. "You made your choice, and now I'm making mine."

With that, I rose from the table, the weight of Riccardo's gaze heavy on my back as I walked away. It was a bittersweet victory-one that left me feeling hollow and empty, yet strangely liberated at the same time.

And as I disappeared into the crowd, the echoes of our fractured friendship ringing in my ears, I couldn't help but wonder if this was truly the end of the road for us-or if, perhaps, it was just the beginning of something new.

As I made my way through the crowded ballroom, the pulse of the music and the hum of conversation filling the air, I couldn't shake the feeling of Riccardo's eyes burning into my back.

Despite my best efforts to push him out of my mind, his presence lingered like a ghost, haunting every step I took.

Lost in my thoughts, I found myself drawn deeper into the heart of the masquerade, the swirling dance of the masked revelers a mesmerizing spectacle.

But amidst the glittering facade of the ball, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched-a sense of someone's gaze following my every move.

And then, as if by some twist of fate, our eyes met across the crowded ballroom, recognition sparking between us like a bolt of lightning. It was Riccardo, his gaze dark and intense as he watched me from across the room, a silent question lingering in the air between us.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as we stood locked in a silent battle of wills, the weight of our shared history hanging heavy in the air. And then, with a defiant tilt of my chin, I turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving him standing there, a silent witness to the dance of our tangled desires.

As the night wore on, the memory of our fleeting encounter lingered in the recesses of my mind, a tantalizing reminder of the unfinished business between us.

And as I slipped out into the cool night air, the echo of Riccardo's gaze burning into my back, I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps, just perhaps, this was the beginning of a new chapter in our tumultuous story.

This time it's you who feels the rage.

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see what i did there