Victoria’s voice practically hummed through the phone, “Aloraaa, you’re coming out with me today. No excuses.”
Alora, still groggy from the night before, rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. She hadn’t expected this call, let alone Victoria’s energetic tone.
“What’s this about? Dante didn’t mention anything about—"
“Exactly,” Victoria interrupted, laughing. “I’m taking you away from him for a bit. We need girl time. He gets way too possessive.”
Alora smiled despite herself, knowing that Victoria wasn’t wrong. “I don’t know, Victoria, I’m kind of tired and—"
“Stop right there. No. You’re not getting out of this. Meet me at Café Roma in an hour. I won’t take no for an answer!” Her tone was playful, but there was a hint of finality that left no room for argument.With a sigh, Alora agreed, “Alright, alright.
One hour. I’ll be there.”
An hour later, Alora found herself walking into Café Roma, a chic spot bustling with chatter, the clinking of coffee cups, and the low hum of jazz music in the background. Victoria was already seated at a corner table, waving enthusiastically when she spotted Alora.
“You’re here!” Victoria grinned, pulling Alora into a hug. “I was starting to think you’d bail on me.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Alora smiled, sitting down. She couldn’t help but feel a little out of place. After everything that had happened, the idea of a carefree outing felt strange.Victoria slid a menu toward her.
“So, what’ll it be? The coffee here is great, but their pastries? To die for.”Alora glanced at the menu, more interested in trying to relax than the food.
“I’ll trust your recommendation.”
“Good choice,” Victoria said, signaling the waiter. “Two cappuccinos and a plate of your best pastries, please.”
As the waiter left, Victoria leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “So, let’s get straight to the point. What exactly is going on between you and Dante?”
Alora nearly choked on her water. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, come on.” Victoria’s grin widened. “I’ve never seen him act the way he does around you. All serious, all... protective. And not just the regular ‘Dante being Dante’ type. This is different.”Alora looked away, feeling a rush of nerves. “We’re just... getting to know each other.”
“Right.” Victoria’s tone was teasing, but her eyes were sharp. “I’m serious though, Alora. He’s totally smitten. It’s kind of scary, honestly.”
Alora forced a laugh. “He doesn’t seem like the type to get ‘smitten.’”
“Oh, he doesn’t. That’s why it’s so funny to watch.” Victoria leaned back, folding her arms. “But enough about him. What about you? I can’t imagine it’s easy, being new to all of this.”
Alora hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. “It’s... a lot. I mean, it’s the Santoro family. There’s a lot to get used to.”Victoria’s gaze softened, picking up on the seriousness in Alora’s tone.
“You okay? You seem a little... distant.”Alora tried to brush it off. “It’s nothing. Just... adjusting.”Victoria reached out, resting her hand on Alora’s arm.
“Look, I know our family can be intense. But if you ever need to talk, I’m here, alright?”Alora smiled, feeling a pang of guilt. Victoria’s kindness made everything harder.
“Thanks, Victoria. I appreciate that.”
Their coffees and pastries arrived, and Victoria quickly shifted the conversation to lighter topics, sharing funny stories about growing up with Dante.
“You should’ve seen him at twelve—always the bossy one, ordering us around like we were his little soldiers. Marco and I used to drive him crazy.”Alora chuckled, enjoying the distraction. “I can imagine.”
Victoria’s laughter was contagious. “Yeah, but don’t tell him I told you that. He likes to pretend he’s always been Mr. Serious.”The banter between them flowed naturally, with Victoria’s lighthearted stories easing some of Alora’s tension. But beneath her smile, Alora’s thoughts kept drifting back to the reality of why she was really there.
The more time she spent with Dante’s family, the more tangled everything became.Victoria’s phone buzzed, and she glanced down at it, her face lighting up.
“Sorry, it’s Marco. He’s just checking in.”Alora nodded, though something about the mention of Marco made her uneasy. Ever since the whispered conversation she overheard at the estate, she hadn’t been able to shake the suspicion.
“So,” Victoria said, tucking her phone away, “what’s next for you? Any big plans with Dante? Or are you keeping things... slow?”Alora’s stomach twisted. How could she possibly explain what was really going on? Instead, she opted for a half-truth.
“We’re still figuring things out.”Victoria smirked. “Well, if I were you, I’d make him work for it. He’s not used to chasing after anyone.”
Alora forced a smile, though the weight of the deception pressed harder with every word. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
As they wrapped up their lunch, Alora felt her phone buzz in her bag. It was a message from Mina. The reminder of her mission sent a cold chill down her spine, snapping her back to reality.Victoria noticed the shift in Alora’s demeanor.
“Everything okay?”Alora quickly nodded, shoving her phone back into her bag. “Yeah, just... something I need to handle.”“
Well, don’t let Dante stress you out too much,” Victoria teased, rising from her seat. “I’ll see you soon, alright?”Alora stood, trying to shake off the dread building in her chest.
“Yeah, definitely. Thanks for today, Victoria.”As they parted ways, Alora couldn’t help but feel the walls closing in around her. The plan. Dante. Victoria. Everything was becoming more complicated than she had ever anticipated.
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I hope you enjoyed this lively chapter, this time I wanted to take the tension off the story for a bit, pretty short, but sweet.
I really do hope you guys like Victoria's character as well.
Thank you!
Love y'all 💗
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Deceptive Hearts
RomanceAlora Hayes is no stranger to deceit. Raised by a family of thieves, she's learned that survival comes at a cost. But when a dangerous deal forces her to infiltrate the powerful Santoro family, the stakes have never been higher. Her mission? Marry D...
