More Than a Deal

A few months had passed since that quiet, intimate dinner. Sienna and Dante had grown closer in ways she hadn’t anticipated. What had started as a bond formed out of necessity and circumstance was slowly turning into something far more profound. They had shared quiet moments, heartfelt conversations, and even heated disagreements, but each day, they learned more about one another, about what they truly wanted—and what they were willing to fight for.

Tonight was different, though. Tonight, Dante was giving her something she never thought she’d receive—something that had always felt like a distant dream.

Sienna sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by papers and notebooks, her thoughts scattered in a hundred different directions. She had been toying with the idea of writing a novel for years, but it had always felt out of reach. There was never enough time, never enough energy, never enough of herself to spare for the dream that lived deep in her chest.

But tonight… tonight was different.

Dante walked into the room, his presence always enough to make the air feel charged. He was dressed casually, a rarity for him, with a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“I’ve got something for you,” he said, his voice low, almost teasing.

Sienna looked up, her brow furrowing in confusion. “What’s this?” she asked, glancing at the folder in his hand.

Dante placed the folder in front of her, his gaze intense. “I’ve been working on something for you. Something you wanted for a long time.”

Sienna opened the folder cautiously, her fingers trembling slightly. As she flipped through the pages, her heart skipped a beat. It was a contract—one from a publishing company. A legitimate one. The kind that could turn her dream into a reality.

Her breath caught in her throat. “Dante, what is this?”

“You wanted to write, right?” he said, his voice soft but determined. “I’ve arranged for you to meet with a publishing house. I told them about your work, about what you’re capable of. They’re willing to make you an offer. It’s not much, but it’s a start.”

Sienna’s mind was spinning. She stared at the contract, then back at Dante. She was overwhelmed—this was the kind of opportunity she had once only dared to dream about.

“You—” Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat. “You did this for me?”

Dante nodded, his expression unreadable. “I don’t do anything for people I don’t care about.”

The weight of his words sank in, and Sienna found herself unable to speak for a moment. There was so much in that simple statement, so much unspoken between them. He cared about her, in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to believe.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Dante reached out, brushing his fingers gently over her hand. “This is just the beginning, Sienna. You’ve got a gift. I want to help you make the most of it.”

Sienna’s eyes shone with gratitude, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like she could take that leap. She had always been scared, unsure of whether her dreams were worthy. But Dante had shown her that sometimes, all it took was someone who believed in her to make everything feel possible.

Later that evening, Dante and Sienna found themselves at a quiet café. The soft hum of conversation filled the air, and the smell of coffee and fresh pastries lingered.

Dante had insisted on taking her out for dinner again—a date, though Sienna hadn’t expected this one to feel as important as the first. But as they sat across from each other, a different kind of understanding settled between them.

“Do you know what this feels like?” Sienna asked, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “To have someone believe in you?”

Dante leaned back in his chair, his eyes studying her as though memorizing every detail. “I’ve never really had anyone believe in me, except for myself. But I’m glad to be the first to show you what you’re capable of.”

Sienna smiled softly. “I think I’ve always known. But I didn’t think I could make it happen. I thought it was too much of a dream.”

“You were just waiting for the right person to help you see it through,” Dante said, his voice barely above a whisper. “And now you have me.”

The way he said it, so sure, so unwavering, made her heart skip a beat. Sienna didn’t realize how much she’d longed for this—someone who saw her, who saw her dreams and didn’t think them foolish or impossible.

“I’m not sure how to thank you,” Sienna admitted, her voice soft. “This—this means more to me than I can put into words.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Dante replied with a small smile. “Just keep writing. Make me proud.”

Sienna nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her. For the first time, she felt like she could conquer whatever the future threw at her. And maybe, just maybe, Dante would be by her side as she did it.