"Don't sound so worried. He just likes to know what's going on in the family. It felt like Luc might have been hiding you from us."
Luc had been hiding me from everyone and everything for months, but he'd started to feel more confident about me being in his life. I wouldn't have been at the party if Luc thought I couldn't handle it.
"Word of advice," Gabriel said to me. "Stand your ground with him. He'll respect you a lot more for it than if you just give in." We stopped outside a door and he gave a mock bow. "I'll see you back down there,bella."
"Thank you, Gabriel."
"Call me Gabe."
He walked back down the corridor and I entered the bathroom thinking over what he had said. Standing my ground with Xavier Moretti wasn't exactly the way I’d thought of meeting him. Could I trust his son or was he just trying to stir the pot and see what would happen?
As I washed my hands at the sink, a woman walked into the room.
"Sorry," she said when she saw me.
"No. I was just leaving," I told her.
The woman was struggling to untangle her long brunette hair from the dangling earrings she wore. I dried my hands and moved closer. "Would you like some help?" I asked.
"Would you?"
She released the tangle from her grip, and I worked my fingers through her hair, carefully pulling it apart from the metal.
"Thank you so much," she said, flashing me a smile.
"I'm Mia."
"Vittoria. Tori. My stupid brother messed with my hair," she huffed. Her eyes then landed on my neck. "Is that a Harry Winston?" Vittoria gestured to the choker.
I gave an embarrassed shrug. "I don't really know."
Vittoria smoothed down her hair and I helped, placing it back where it should be. Suddenly, she caught my hand in a gentle grasp and looked at the bracelet that hung there.
"Wow," she said with a raised brow as she inspected it and I felt uncomfortable.
"It was a gift," I told her, going red.
"Obviously but he may as well have gotten you an engagement ring."
"I'm sorry?" I blinked, feeling out of my depth with the conversation.
"That's a Cartier love bracelet."
My face remained blank. I knew of the brand, but Vittoria had said it as if it should mean something to me. It looked like it would be more fitting on her wrist, teamed with the elegant gold gown that hugged her body.
"That right there," Vittoria told me with a laugh, tapping on the bracelet. "Is a big statement that you belong to someone and that it's for life. Not cheap and a little on the possessive side but shouldn’t expect anything less from the boys downstairs."
My face burned at the statement and Vittoria grinned at me. We made our way out of the bathroom together and walked back into the ballroom. Of all the women I had met tonight, aside from Carmen, Vittoria seemed the warmest, although as we walked, I noticed how people gave her a wide berth.
"What do you think of the decor?" Tori asked me.
"It's beautiful," I told her. "I've never seen anything like it if I'm honest."
The band was still playing, and people had finished dinner and filled the floor with drinks in hand.
"Now tell me, who is showering you with such affection?" Tori asked me, bumping a shoulder against mine.
My eyes scanned the room to find Lucas standing a little way off against the wall with Dante, Gabriel and an older man who sported a head of slicked silver hair.
