Bound By Power

5

Damien Cortelli paced the small hotel room, the din light casting long shadows on the wall. The weight of his father's words from night before hung heavy in the air, pushing him to seek refuge away from the looming responsibilities of his family. Now, it was time to return home, but the thought filled him with a mix of dread and reluctance.

After a quick shower, he dressed and headed to the elevator. Pressing the button for the ground floor, he leaned against the cool metal wall, trying to clear his mind. Suddenly, the elevator jerked to a half. Damien frowned, glancing at the control panel, but it showed no signs of malfunction.Just as he contemplated hitting the emergency button, the doors slid open, revealing a stunning woman standing there.
"Damien!" she exclaimed, a sultry smile spreading across her lips. She was tall, her long, wavy chestnut hair cascading down her shoulders, and her figure was highlighted by a tight blue dress that left little to the imagination.

"What a pleasant surprise," she purred, stepping inside the elevator with an air of confidence.

"When did you get back from the States?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral.

"A month ago," she replied, her eyes sparking with mischief. "I was hoping to see you. Sicily is beautiful, but it's been full without you around."

"Are you enjoying it?" he inquired but the question felt hollow. Their relationship has never been anything serious–just two friends who shared a physical connection whenever their paths crossed.

"Umm, yeah...but I've missed the fun we used to have," she said, her index finger tracing a playful line down his chest, her gaze lingering as if trying to rekindle a spark that had long since fizzled out.

Before her finger could drift lower and could touch his belt, Damien caught her wrist, halting her advances. "Not anymore, Bella," he said, his voice firm but devoid of malice.

She looked at him, confused and disappointed. "Why? We've had our share of fun—remember all those times in the States? We were practically fuck buddies," she said, a hint of frustration creeping into her tone. "We've known each other forever!"

He took a breath, feeling the weight of the truth he had to deliver.
"Things have changed. I'm getting engaged today," he replied, letting the finality of his words settle between them

Her expression shifted, surprise washing over her features. "Wait...what?" she asked, momentarily taken aback.

"Yeah," he said, stepping back as the elevator doors opened on the ground floor. "I have to go."

As he walked out of the elevator and towards the hotel exit, he felt a mix of relief and heaviness in his chest. He was heading back to a life filled with expectations and responsibilities, leaving behind the casual encounters that had once been a welcome distraction. But with each step, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was leaving a part of himself behind, one that had reveled in freedom but now faced the certainty of the future.
_______________________________________

Around 3 PM, the Cortelli family reached Naples, and after another hour, they arrived at the Moretti mansion. Inside, Elena was still in her plain ivory-white dress with delicate floral prints, her long hair loose as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, her younger sister, Mia, burst into the room, ice cream in hand.

"Ele, I got you ice cream!" Mia chirped.

Meanwhile, the Cortelli family had just been welcomed by Giovanni and Clara Moretti and made their way toward the living area. Damien, however, received a call and excused himself, stepping into the corridor to answer it.

Back upstairs, Mia continued to tease Elena with her favorite ice cream, playfully darting away with it. Without thinking, Elena chased after her, not realizing the Cortellis had already arrived. As they ran through the mansion, laughing, Damien finished his call and turned to head back. Suddenly, a small girl with two ice creams came sprinting toward him at full speed, stopping abruptly. One of the ice creams smacked right into his suit pants. It was none other than Mia.