Assigned Bride [Unrequited Love]

8

Katherine followed behind Francesco, she couldn’t help but notice the way people’s gazes followed him as well. His broad shoulders, the clean lines of his suit, and the effortless power in his stride made him impossible to ignore. He moved like a man who commanded attention wherever he went. Katherine swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on him as they walked out into the garden, the air cooler now, a welcome contrast to the heat she felt bubbling inside her.

Suddenly, Francesco stopped without warning, and she was lost in her thoughts, walking straight into his back. Her nose collided with the hard muscles of his shoulder blade, and a wave of embarrassment washed over her as she rubbed her face, wincing from the sharp tingle. His scent—a mixture of amber and musk—lingered in her nose, making her senses reel. Unknowingly, she took a deep breath; it was intoxicating, and she felt completely rattled.

Francesco turned around slowly, his sharp gaze catching her off guard. His face was unreadable, though his eyes held a glint of something like amusement as he noticed her scrunched-up face and the way she gingerly rubbed her nose. The flicker of anger that had been simmering in him moments ago, after watching Mason’s behavior, seemed to soften just a little.

"Katherine," he said, his deep voice both questioning and admonishing. "What on earth were you doing?"

She blushed deeply, cursing herself for being so distracted. "I’m sorry, sir... I didn’t realize you’d stopped."

Francesco studied her for a moment, his lips twitching as if he were trying to suppress a smile, though his eyes were still serious. He had other things on his mind—Mason, for one—but seeing her standing there, looking so adorably flustered, made his irritation fade.

Without missing a beat, his expression turned more somber, his gaze hardening slightly. "Are you close to Mason, Katherine?"

The directness of the question threw her off. She blinked up at him, suddenly feeling small under his intense scrutiny. "No, sir," she replied quickly, shaking her head. "We’re not close at all. I’ve only spoken to him when he comes by the office to see you."

Francesco didn’t look fully convinced. "And the invitation? How did that happen?"

Katherine bit her lip before answering, feeling like she was being interrogated. "He came to the office today looking for you, but when he heard you weren’t around, he invited me instead. I only came because of Morgan… she needed to meet someone here."

Francesco’s brows furrowed at that, suspicion creeping into his thoughts. Why had Mason come to the office when he knew he wouldn’t be there? The unease in Francesco’s chest grew, and his voice lowered, his tone more firm than before.

"I don’t want you getting close to him, Katherine," he said, the authority in his voice unmistakable. "Be careful around him. Do you understand?"

His words were sharp, and though she knew he was just being protective, there was something almost possessive in the way he said it. Katherine’s heart raced at the command, but she simply nodded obediently.

But Francesco wasn’t satisfied with just a nod. He stepped closer, his presence towering over her as his hand lifted. For a second, it seemed like he was going to reach for her face, but instead, he gently tapped her forehead with his fingers.

"Don’t just nod. I want to hear you say it."

Katherine furrowed her brows, both embarrassed and slightly irritated at his action. Her hand instinctively went to her forehead where he’d tapped her, her face warming under his gaze. "I understand, sir. I’ll stay away from Mason."

Satisfied, Francesco let out a low breath, his lips curling slightly in a rare, almost imperceptible smile. There was something unexpectedly endearing about the way she reacted—how quick she was to follow his lead, how she tried to hide her irritation but couldn’t quite manage it. She was adorable in a way he hadn’t noticed before.