The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 250: Game of desire

Chapter 250: Game of desire

Stella up slightly drowsy from sleeping all day. but that wasn’t until after she had bawled her eyes out. Matteo had gotten dressed and left the room to her, giving her ample freedom to express her pain the weight that she deemed best.

All morning, she sat in the warm bathtub, basking in the warmth that soothed her nerves and helped her release herself even more. It was this day that made her realise the importance of taking a bath when one was hurt.

Waking up now, except the heaviness that swarmed her head, she felt even better than earlier today during the discussion.

Never underestimate the power of a good nap.

She reached for her phone to check the time, as Matteo had told her to get herself ready for a party. When she was getting prepared for the trip, she had thought against bringing a dress. But right now, as she was about to get herself prepared, she thanked her stars for giving her the initiative to do so in the first place.

Ten minutes after seven.

It was not too late, there was still time for her to make her way to the event in time.

"But what to wear?" She mumbled as she made her way to her box. She did not bother draping her things in the closet due to habits of forgetfulness, and the clothes that Beatrix had gotten for her were way too special to lose.

She shut her eyes tightly and jumped around in delight as a thought suddenly dawned on her.

"I know just the thing." She exclaimed, genuinely delighted with herself.

She unzipped the box and took out a compressed and sealed black bag. After much in zipping and tearing, she brought out the scarlet evening dress that Beatrix had used to launch their shopping spree. With the bundle of beauty in her hand, she ran towards the full length mirror and held it out on her chest.

Thank you so much, Beatrix. Just what I needed.

She got prepared and made her way out of the hotel, into the waiting car that Matteo had provided.

A few minutes of driving led her to the destination – another grand, evidently luxurious set up. However, it was the decor that made all the difference. The path was like an entrance to a magical land. Due to the tint of the glass, it was not clear, so, she waited until the car drew to a halt.

There were two wait men at each side of the entrance. One of them walked up to the door that faced the path and opened, and then she was greeted with the full beauty of the space.

Tall candles in glass cylinders lined the path, with its bases surrounded in stuffed red roses and petals alike. A curtain was draped over the structure, and dropping lights were donned just above, giving it an ethereal aura.

How lucky I am to find myself in this part of life.

In spite of her situation with Matteo, she was grateful for the many things she was privileged to experience. Never in her life did she imagine that she’d live such a life, going for official events such as these, and experiencing the life of the elites.

"Allow me to lead the way, ma’am." The wait man offered, bowing slightly and holding out his hand in the direction of the path. She nodded her reply and tagged behind him.

***

The hall was filled with people of different caliber. For a ’small party’, as Gerald had specified, Matteo was unnerved at how much the place swarmed with attendance. He began to think to himself just what his prospect was exactly into that warranted him such a lifestyle.

For one such as him, he had a viable explanation – the Mafia. But what about him?

From the discussion that they had, it did not seem very likely that he was a part of them. But then, wasn’t that the whole point? Staying unpredictable?

Not only that, he treated him with such care and attention. At some point, it became unbearable and he was forced to step out a few times just to escape him coming to check in every few minutes. As though that was not enough, each time he came to check in, he would pose a weird request about Stella.

But on the third request, he shot him a cold glare, finally sending him off with a silent warning not to cross the line. He never came to him again.

However, the event had now started and Stella was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, a subtle bout of whispering went up in the room, graduating to low rumbles of both light and heavy voices. And every one of them was getting on his nerve. He got on his feet, heading toward the entrance with his phone in hand when he bumped into someone.

"Oh I’m so sorry –" His focus was instantly roused as Stella sauntered past him, an ethereal vision in a scandalously alluring evening dress. The fabric clung to her curves with a tantalising grace, leaving little to the imagination. The dangerously low dip of the neckline of her dress revealed a most delicious sight of perfectly moulded glistening skin, almost like glowing peaches in the minimal light that graced her mirror like skin.

He followed her with his eyes, like a hungry caveman watching a living prey trot past his eyes. Every step she took ignited a wicked fire within him, stirring a most familiar tempest but at a much more dangerous intensity.

The fabric shimmered under the dim lights, casting an enchanting glow that seemed to emanate from her very essence.

His eyes did not hesitate to rake, to trace every contour, every graceful curve that the dress accentuated, drinking in the intoxicating sight before him. It was a garment carefully chosen to elicit desire, to entice and ensnare those who dared to gaze upon its wearer.

Her presence seemed to linger in the air around him, leaving behind a heavy trail of temptation. And then the last bit of control that affirmed his primal hunger for possession, was the subtle scent of his cologne.

His heart quickened, his pulse raced with an urgency that heavily countered his sense of control.

Goddamn it, Stella, you do know how to ignite a man’s senses.

He thought to himself with a delightful stirring in his loins, and with a swift motion, he turned to the direction she had walked into. But he was too late. For standing before him, was his now affirmed enemy, pressing his lips against the back of her palm.

"And you know how to play the game of desire." He growled to himself as he made his way back to his seat, which was a full room away from his – it was a sitting arrangement purposefully made by the host, Gerald. And now, more than ever, Matteo had a need to shed blood like never before.