CRIMSON KISSES

CHAPTER 47

As they arrived at the secretive elite gathering, the air felt charged with anticipation. She stepped out first, the streetlight casting a glow on her stunning black dress. It was simple in its elegance but laced with intrigue - the back open, her skin exposed in a delicate arc, interrupted only by a striking golden snake design that coiled sinuously around her spine. The serpent's eyes gleamed as though alive, a perfect blend of danger and allure.

He followed, dressed in a sleek black three-piece suit, the cut sharp and precise, mirroring his own controlled power. His gaze fell on her, and for a moment, he forgot the exclusivity of the event they were attending. She was breathtaking - a goddess of the night, draped in mystery and seduction. The way the dress clung to her every curve, the snake glistening under the dim lights, it pulled him in. He had always admired her beauty, but tonight... she was something else entirely.

As she moved toward the entrance, his eyes never left her, entranced by the way the golden snake seemed to dance with each step she took. He couldn't help but smirk, intrigued by how effortlessly she commanded attention. The night had just begun, but already, he felt a stirring within him that went far beyond the secrecy of the party.

As they walked through the grand entrance, the atmosphere inside the party shifted. The room was a display of opulence, bathed in the glow of golden chandeliers that hung like constellations above them. The marble floors gleamed underfoot, reflecting the soft light of the crystal wall sconces. Around the vast hall, velvet drapes in deep shades of burgundy framed towering windows, while intricate gold patterns wound across the ceiling like vines. Every inch of the space whispered wealth, exclusivity, and decadence.

Tables draped in satin cloth were adorned with ornate candelabras, flickering flames casting a warm, intimate glow over guests who sipped champagne from crystal flutes. The soft hum of conversation filled the air, mingling with the notes of a live string quartet playing softly in the background.

But when Rafel and Valeria stepped inside, the room seemed to pause. It was as though the air itself had shifted to accommodate their presence. Rafel, tall and imposing in his perfectly tailored black suit, commanded immediate attention. His mask of power and ruthlessness was a silent declaration, and eyes followed him with a mix of awe and apprehension. His gaze was cold, yet undeniably captivating, like a predator silently surveying the room.

And then there was Valeria. All eyes turned to her as if drawn by an invisible force. The soft fabric of her black dress shimmered under the golden light, and the golden snake coiled around her back seemed alive, watching as she moved with lethal grace. Her beauty was almost unreal - otherworldly. A living embodiment of seduction, her presence was magnetic, pulling attention away from the extravagance of the room and focusing it entirely on her.

There was a collective breath held as they moved further inside, a powerful pair cutting through the crowd, exuding authority and allure. Whispers followed in their wake, and eyes lingered long after they passed, completely captivated by the sheer force of their presence.

Rafel's hand held my waist with a firm possessiveness, his fingers tracing slow, intricate patterns that sent tiny sparks along my skin. Each touch felt deliberate, like he was drawing symbols only he could understand, and despite myself, I couldn't help but feel a ticklish warmth blooming under his touch.

A middle-aged man approached, his hand resting on the arm of a woman whose face was hidden beneath an ornate mask, leaving only her eyes visible-eyes that stirred a strange sense of familiarity within me. Around us, the room was alive with whispers and masked figures, their identities obscured by either half or full masks, a sea of elegant secrecy.

The man greeted Rafel with a smooth, practiced smile before turning his attention to me. His gaze lingered a moment too long, as though peeling away the layers of mystery that the mask was meant to conceal. It felt as though he saw more than he should, an unsettling familiarity in his look that made my skin prickle beneath Rafel's touch.

The man lingered, his voice smooth as he continued, "I've heard many things about your latest ventures, Valentino. Your influence seems to be spreading farther than ever before." There was a subtle hint of admiration mixed with something deeper-perhaps envy.

Rafel, ever composed, gave a small, measured smile.

"One must adapt and expand. Standing still invites vulnerability."

"Wise words," the man replied, nodding slowly, his eyes narrowing behind the mask. His wife, still silent beside him, glanced between us, her eyes sharp beneath her delicate mask. There was an air of tension in the exchange, an unspoken understanding that these were more than pleasantries.

Turning to me once again, the man's smile returned, but this time it seemed more calculated.

"And you, my dear, seem to be at the center of quite a bit of attention tonight. I can see why."

I offered a polite smile, though I could feel Rafel's hand tighten slightly at my waist. "It's all very new to me."

The man's eyes lingered for a beat too long, something unreadable in his gaze before he finally stepped back.

"Well, I won't keep you. But do take care, both of you. The night is young, and there are many more surprises to come."

With that, he turned, leading his wife away, though her eyes flickered back to me one last time before they disappeared into the crowd.

Once the man and his wife disappeared into the crowd, I turned to Rafel, curiosity gnawing at me. "Who was that man?" I asked quietly, my voice laced with a mixture of intrigue and unease.

Rafel's eyes followed the man's retreating figure for a moment before he responded, his voice low.

"Antonio Moretti. He's a businessman, well-connected, but not someone I'd trust easily."

I glanced back toward where they had gone. "And his wife? She didn't say a word."

Rafel's jaw tightened slightly.

"Sophia Moretti. She stays out of the public eye, but she's not as quiet as she seems. Their relationship is... complicated, to say the least. Antonio has a reputation for using people, manipulating situations to his advantage. You'd be supirsed to know that no one has never seen her face. Whenever they are in public she covers her face. Always."

I frowned. "He seemed interested in us-more than just pleasantries."

Rafel nodded, his eyes narrowing.

"He's always looking for opportunities. If he lingered on you, it wasn't by accident. Stay cautious around him."

I felt a chill creep down my spine, but Rafel's hand on my waist was reassuring, his protective presence unshakable. "Noted," I murmured, my mind already racing with thoughts about what game Antonio Moretti might be playing.

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SHIT IS SLOWLY GOING DOWN...GET READY CAUSE THE REAL AND ACTUAL PLOT IS STARTING HERE BY.

ANYWAYS I LOVE YOU ALWAYS BYEE.