Sinful Flames

Chapter 18

I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the fabric of the ball gown Evangeline had arranged for me. It was a stunning piece—deep emerald green that complemented my eyes, with intricate beadwork that caught the light with every movement. The dress hugged my curves perfectly, flaring out just enough to give it a touch of elegance and drama.

I finished my hair and makeup, opting for loose waves and a classic red lip. As I looked at my reflection, I felt a surge of confidence. For the first time in a long while, I felt truly beautiful.

Taking a deep breath, I made my way down to the living room where Gabriel was waiting. As I descended the staircase, I saw him standing at the bottom, his eyes locked onto me. He didn’t blink, standing completely still and awestruck.

When I reached him, I couldn’t help but smile. His mouth was slightly open, and I gently reached up to close his jaw. "Careful, Gabriel," I teased. "You might catch flies."

He shook his head slightly, regaining his composure, and leaned in to peck my cheek. "You look stunning, Chiara," he whispered in my ear, his voice low and seductive. "I might have to keep you close tonight, to keep all the other men away."

Heat flooded my cheeks at his words, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. But before I could respond, Antonio cleared his throat, breaking the spell. We both stepped back, and I saw Matteo smirking, clearly amused by the interaction.

Gabriel offered me his arm, and I took it, feeling the electricity between us as we walked out together. Despite everything, there was no denying the chemistry we shared, and tonight, it was impossible to ignore.

As we settled into the car, I turned to Gabriel, curiosity getting the better of me. "So, what's the charity gala about?" I inquired.

Gabriel glanced at me, his expression softening. "It's for a foundation that supports underprivileged children. They provide education, healthcare, and other essentials. There's also an auction tonight to raise additional funds."

I nodded, impressed by his commitment. "That's really admirable, Gabriel. What kind of items are up for auction?"

He smiled, "Everything from artwork to vacation packages. It's a high-profile event, so the donations are usually quite generous."

As we chatted, I felt his hand rest on my thigh. I raised an eyebrow and promptly pushed his hand away, giving him a sassy smile. "Keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Romano. We're going to a respectable event, remember?"

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my retort. "Can't blame a man for trying," he said with a grin.

Matteo, who was seated in the front, turned around with a smirk. "Boss, you really need to work on your subtlety."

I laughed, holding up my hand for a high five. Matteo met it with a grin, and we shared a victorious moment. "See? Even Matteo agrees."

Gabriel shook his head, smiling. "You two are going to be trouble tonight, I can tell."

Antonio, who had been silent until now, chimed in with a deadpan expression. "At least try to behave until after the appetizers."

The laughter that followed eased the tension even more. As we continued our drive to the gala, I felt a strange mix of excitement and warmth. Despite everything, Gabriel was starting to show me sides of himself I hadn't expected. And though I still had my reservations, I couldn't deny the growing connection between us.

As we arrived at the gala, the atmosphere shifted, the guys becoming more serious as soon as we stepped out of the car. They ushered me through the back entrance while Gabriel posed for the cameras, his charismatic smile on full display. Antonio kept me company as we waited for Gabriel, and I took the opportunity to admire the elegant decorations and fangirl over the celebrities who were present.

As we chatted, Antonio suddenly dropped a bombshell. "I know about the article you plan to write on Gabriel," he said casually.

I froze, shocked that he knew. "How...how did you find out?" I stammered.

Antonio shrugged. "I know everything related to Gabriel. And I knew about you too," he added with a knowing look.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I struggled to find the right words. "I'm not going to write anything about him," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've...I've become close to him, and I don't want to lose that."

Antonio studied me for a moment before speaking again. "Just be careful, Chiara. Don't break his heart," he warned.

I nodded, swallowing hard. "I won't," I promised, hoping I could keep that promise.

Just then, Gabriel entered the room with Matteo, his presence commanding attention. He made small talk with the businessmen, his charm evident in every word. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, but my attention was soon diverted by the arrival of a stunning woman in red.

"Who is she?" I whispered to Antonio, my eyes following her as she approached him.

Antonio glanced over and sighed. "That's Camila Valencia, Gabriel's ex," he explained.

Seeing Gabriel and Camila together, a pang of jealousy pierced through me. I clenched my fists, trying to push down the unwelcome feeling. Matteo, who had joined us, chuckled at my reaction. "Go get your man," he teased.

I shook my head adamantly. "Gabriel is not my man," I insisted, but Matteo and Antonio exchanged knowing looks, clearly not convinced.

As the three of us joined Gabriel and Camila, I couldn't help but glare at the sight of Camila's hand resting on Gabriel's shoulder. Matteo chuckled at my reaction, and Antonio smirked knowingly. Gabriel noticed my discomfort and introduced me to Camila with a charm in his eyes.

"Camila, this is Chiara," he said, his voice warm as he looked at me with pride. "Chiara, this is Camila, an old friend."

Camila looked me up and down with disdain, her lip curling slightly. "Ah, so this is the new flavor of the month," she remarked, her tone dripping with condescension. "Quite the downgrade, Gabriel."

Before Gabriel could respond, I felt a surge of indignation rise within me. With a confidence I didn't know I had, I retorted, "Well, Gabriel's taste clearly improved after you two broke up."

Matteo and Antonio chuckled at my response, and even Gabriel couldn't hide his smirk of approval. I flashed him a small smile before excusing myself to get a drink, needing a moment to collect my thoughts.

As I walked away, I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance at the sight of Gabriel talking to Camila. The audacity of him to flirt with his ex right in front of me only fueled the fire of my resentment towards him. How could he be so oblivious to my feelings?

I took a deep breath, trying to push down the rising tide of jealousy and anger. But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, the nagging sense that I had somehow been played for a fool. As I sipped my drink, I silently cursed Gabriel for making me feel this way, for making me hate him even more with each passing moment.