Little Flame

CHAPTER EIGHT: ZANE

I stepped into the high-end tailor shop with Mark , both of us immediately surrounded by racks of finely crafted suits. The air smelled of polished leather, faintly mingled with the rich scent of cologne from the walls lined with display mannequins. My eyes scanned the options, each one sharp, elegant, and expertly crafted. But today wasn’t just about picking out a suit—it was about sending a message.

My fingers brushed against the fabric of a charcoal gray jacket, the softness under my fingertips reminding me how much attention to detail was important, not just in business, but in life. Mark, as usual, wasn’t wasting any time. He was already pulling out a few options, holding them up to the light, inspecting the cuts and stitching with his usual professional air.

“We should make this quick,” I said, tossing my coat onto a nearby chair. My eyes briefly met Mark’s, sharp as ever. “We have a wedding to attend, and I’m guessing the groom’s not the only one I’ll be looking at.”

Mark chuckled, his usual smirk forming. “Yeah, yeah. You’re already planning on making everyone look bad by showing up looking like a damn movie star. But you’re not just talking about the groom, are you?” he raised an eyebrow, clearly aware of the subject I have been obsessed with the past few days.

I shot him a pointed look. “Brianna Castellano is going to be there. Don’t pretend you haven’t noticed her. I didn’t need to say more. Mark had been in the loop long enough to know what I was talking about.

Mark gave a low whistle. “So that’s how it is, huh? You can’t get her out of your head.”

I exhaled, feeling the pull of my thoughts on Brianna again, the way her presence had unsettled me. There was something different about her. Something that made him feel like I was a little less in control, and that was an odd sensation for me. “She’s not like the others. She’s tied to everything I’ve built, but she’s also a world I don’t fully understand yet.” I picked up a sleek black suit, holding it in front of me in the mirror. “And I’m going to figure her out. At the wedding.”

Mark snorted, walking over to the suits as if they were nothing more than his daily tasks to sift through. “I’m starting to think you’re more obsessed with this one than you let on. She’s connected to some serious people, man. You know what you’re getting into?”

I paused, looking at Mark through the mirror. “I know exactly what I’m getting into. *She* doesn’t. That’s the point.”

Mark threw up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m just saying. If you’re planning on playing this the way you normally do, be ready for the consequences.” He gave me an amused look. “But sure, do your thing. You’ve got the charm and the suits, so what’s the worst that could happen?”

I grinned, picking up a burgundy tie to go with the black suit. “Exactly. I’ll make her see things my way. But I need to make sure she knows exactly who I am, Mark. I’m not going in half-assed.”

Mark leaned against the counter, arms folded. “So, what’s the plan? You going to win her over with the charm, or are you making her an offer she can’t refuse?” He grinned, clearly enjoying my reaction to his teasing.

I turned, meeting Mark’s gaze with a subtle, dangerous smile. “I’m not offering her anything. She’ll want *me* on her own. The trick is to make sure she knows she’s not in control.” I adjusted my suit jacket, admiring how it fit my broad shoulders. This is I do —I make the rules. And anyone who wanted to play in my world had to follow them.

Mark raised an eyebrow. “And what happens when she doesn’t fall for your tricks? Because I gotta say, this woman doesn’t seem like the type to roll over.”

My smile faltered. “Then I’ll just have to make her.”

There was a pause as Mark considered that response, the silence between us thick with unspoken understanding. I didn’t just *want* Brianna—I *needed* her to be a part of my world. The more I thought about her, the more I realized I couldn’t leave this to chance. My instincts told me that she wouldn’t be easy. She wasn’t the kind of woman who could be captured with mere charm or force.

I have to break through her walls, piece by piece. And I would.

Mark broke the silence first, cracking his knuckles. “So, what’s the move for tonight? What are we wearing to show everyone that we run the show?”

I adjusted my tie in the mirror, inspecting my reflection with the air of a man who knew the game I was about to play. “Tonight? I’m going to show everyone that I don’t just run the show—I am the show.”

Mark shook his head with a smirk. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

My eyes sparkled with mischief as I turned back to the racks, pulling another option—a dark blue suit that was even more sleek than the black one. “You’re right. But I’m also the one everyone will be watching tonight.”

As we continued to select the suits, the tension of the upcoming wedding hung in the air. I knew that it wouldn’t just be another event for me. It was more than that—it was a chance to claim something that had eluded me for far too long: Brianna Castellano. And by the end of the night, she’d understand exactly who I am  Whether she liked it or not.

Author's note:

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