His Secrets , Her Siyasat
Scent
The purr of the black Maserati faded into the distance as Aryan stepped out, his polished shoes tapping softly on the cobblestone driveway of Palazzo Bellini. The air was thick with expensive perfume and expensive secrets. Security at the gates had waved him through without question one nod from Leonard Moretti was all it took.
Inside, warm golden lights bathed the high-arched ceilings, and the murmur of elite conversations echoed like a symphony. Waiters passed through the crowd with trays of flutes and canapés. Every face wore a mask not the kind made of silk or lace, but the kind built over years of calculated smiles and half-truths.
Aryan adjusted the cuffs of his tuxedo. His presence alone demanded attention, but he didn’t care for eyes that lingered or smiles that were too wide. He scanned the room until his gaze landed on a woman descending the staircase.
She wasn’t dressed to impress. She was the impression.
Her black gown shimmered like liquid shadow, clinging to her in all the right ways. Her heels struck the marble floor like punctuation marks. She was talking to someone a man but Aryan could tell by her posture, her slight lean away, that she wasn’t interested. She was just waiting for an excuse to leave.
Alessia Romano / FL
** holding the glass of champagne**
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** took a glass from a passing tray **
He already knew where this night would lead. He wasn’t here to mingle. He was here to watch.
Leonard Moretti
**Appeared beside him, glass of bourbon in hand **
Leonard Moretti
She doesn’t like attention, but it follows her anyway. Remind you of someone? ❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
You are comparing me to her now?❄️ ** sips the drink and raise his eyebrow **
Leonard Moretti
No. I’m saying the two of you in the same room is either destiny or disaster. ❄️
Alessia Romano / FL
** turns her eyes towards him dark, curious, unblinking **
Alessia Romano / FL
** hands the empty glass to the worker and walks towards him **
Alessia Romano / FL
You are Moretti's shadow.❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** raising an eyebrow** And you are the girl who likes to start conversations with accusations?❄️
Alessia Romano / FL
Not accusations just observations❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
Then you observe well ❄️
Alessia Romano / FL
** Leaned slightly closer to challenge not to invite**
Alessia Romano / FL
What do you do, Mr. Rajvansh? Aside from brooding in expensive suits and pretending not to enjoy the attention? ❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
I run companies. Make deals. Break a few ❄️
Alessia Romano / FL
Vague answers. Are you always this mysterious or just scared someone might see through you? ❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** smiles ** Only the people I want to see through me ❄️
Their eyes locked for a moment too long. The tension wasn’t romantic. It was electric two storms studying each other, wondering who’d crack first.
Just then, the music shifted, and a small hush fell over the hall. The gala host, an older Italian duchess, clinked her glass and made a short, polite speech in Italian
Aryan used the distraction to glance at the exits. Always know your way out Moretti’s rule number one.
Alessia Romano / FL
** caught his movements**
Alessia Romano / FL
You always planning an escape❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
Old habits ❄️ ** shrugs **
Alessia Romano / FL
Or guilty conscience❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** felt a firm hold on this shoulder **
Leonard Moretti
A word ragazzo ❄️
Ragazzo means boy or young man
Alessia Romano / FL
**Raised a brow and stepped back lips curving into a sly smile**
Alessia Romano / FL
don't worry I will be around, don't miss me too much❄️ ** leaned and whispers in his ears **
Alessia Romano / FL
** turned and walked off **
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** eyes lingered on her and stared at her with intense gaze **
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** turned back ** what is it ❄️
Leonard Moretti
Your presence tonight stirred something. Someone recognized the family ring you wear. ❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
Impossible I have never worn it in public ❄️
Leonard Moretti
You did once. Years ago. And he remembers. ❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** jaw tightened **
Leonard Moretti
Anil Romano ❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** eyes narrowed ** Alessia's father ❄️
Leonard Moretti
Yes, and he knows he recognized the moment he saw you ❄️
In a dim corridor away from the noise, Anil Romano stood in shadow, rolling a ring between his fingers the same crest that once belonged to his forgotten past. The same one Aryan now carried.
Anil Romano/ FL father
The crown never loses its scent... even when buried ❄️
The gala was still in full swing, but Aryan wasn’t listening to the music anymore. His mind was in the corridor where Anil Romano stood, in the echo of a sentence Matteo had just whispered.
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** hand curled into fist **
The weight of the past pressing hard against his rib cage. Only two people in this country knew the truth of his bloodline Moretti and now apparently Anil Romano.
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
How long has he known ?! ❄️** tight-lipped **
Leonard Moretti
Hard to say. But he is watching you now carefully if he is smart, he won’t say a word. If he’s not… ❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** jaw clenched ** then I will deal with it ❄️
Before Matteo could say more, a voice called from behind them.
Alessia Romano / FL
Discussing international oil trades, gentlemen? Or just sharing fashion tips? ❄️
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** turned with a blank face **
Alessia Romano / FL
** holding two champagne glasses give him one **
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
** takes it **
Alessia Romano / FL
You looked like you needed something stronger but they only serve champagne to ‘polished guests’. ❄️ ** said dryly**
Aryan Rajvansh/ ML
that means you are also a polished guest ❄️
Alessia Romano / FL
It means I clean up well when I feel like it.
Alessia Romano / FL
** took a sip and tilted her head ** Your expression changed. Something I said❄️
Leonard Moretti
** gave a smooth smile ** Just business, Alessia. Nothing interesting enough for you ❄️
Alessia Romano / FL
Funny. Because the most dangerous things in life always hide behind the word ‘business.’ ❄️
She didn’t wait for a reply. Just turned back toward the ballroom. Aryan’s gaze followed her.
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