Matteo, Leonardo, and Alessandro, the powerful owners of De Angeli Enterprises, are in their early thirties and have built a fearsome reputation worldwide. Known for their ruthlessness and ambition, these men have amassed wealth and influence by tak...
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"You should cook at our place," Matteo suggests with a warm smile, his voice carrying an easy confidence. "That way, if you decide to accept the offer, you'll be slightly familiarized with our kitchen." Yulia's heart skips a beat, and she's already shaking her head in protest, her instinctive shyness rising to the surface. She can't imagine imposing on their personal space, but the others chime in, their voices layering with agreement. Before she can voice another refusal, they casually toss more steak into the basket, sealing the decision.
Alessandro, with his keen eyes always attuned to her, notices Yulia struggling slightly under the weight of the basket as it grows heavier with each addition. Without a word, he reaches out, his strong hand closing around the handle. Yulia tries to protest, her lips parting to insist that she's fine, but one look from him—a gentle, yet firm gaze—causes her to falter. Her heart flutters, and she lowers her head, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks as she mumbles a quiet, "Thank you."
Matteo, ever the leader, glances back at them with a soft smile. "Let's head back to the produce aisle. I need to grab a few more vegetables, and then we can go home." He starts walking ahead, Leonardo falling into step beside him, his long strides effortlessly keeping pace as he pushes the shopping cart. Alessandro and Yulia linger behind, a comfortable silence settling between them, punctuated only by the soft hum of the surrounding store.
The air between them feels thick with unspoken words, yet there's no discomfort—just a quiet understanding. Alessandro breaks the silence, his deep voice resonating with that accent of his that never fails to send a shiver down her spine. "Your name... Russian, no?"
Yulia's breath hitches at the sound, and she nods, her voice soft as she responds. "Yes, my father was Russian, my mother from the UK. They moved here shortly after she got pregnant with me, and I've never left." She glances at him, her eyes flickering with a mix of vulnerability and pride.
Alessandro listens, his expression thoughtful as he absorbs her words. His nod is slow, deliberate, as if he's filing away each detail about her, learning her piece by piece. And as they continue down the aisle, the distance between them feels both infinite and impossibly close, like two sides of the same coin slowly turning toward each other.
"Why no?" Alessandro asks, his brow furrowing slightly as he seeks to understand her reluctance. Yulia just shrugs, her confusion mirroring his. She doesn't really know why she feels the way she does—it's just a jumble of emotions she can't quite untangle. He seems to recognize that he won't be getting a clearer answer, and after a moment, he shrugs as well, the gesture so casual that it makes her giggle, the sound light and melodic in the space between them.
A small smile tugs at the corners of Alessandro's mouth, and he continues, his accent wrapping around each word with a warmth that makes her heart flutter. "I met Montanna in Italy. She made me meet Matteo, who made me meet Leo, and now we are all together," he explains, his words slightly hesitant, as if he's carefully selecting them from his limited vocabulary. Yulia nods, absorbing this new piece of information. She had assumed they were all brothers, the way they interacted with such ease and familiarity.
