Marked as His ?

As the night went on, the tension between them began to melt, gradually, like snow under sunlight.

They talked about little things, books, music, how she started her café.

Andrea's eyes sparkled when she spoke about her work, her voice gaining warmth with every word.

" You know, it wasn't supposed to be permanent..."

She admitted, swirling the champagne in her glass.

" Just something to keep busy... but I ended up loving it."

Alfonso listened to her closely and nodding ever now and then, his gaze steady.

Her heart gave a small, unexpected flutter when she felt him looking straight at her.

She quickly looked away, pretending to adjust the delicate strap of her dress.

The warmth of the champagne eased Andrea's tension and nervousness

Olivia was nowhere around her, she seemed to have embraced the atmosphere fully, her usual bubbly energy dialed up under the golden lights.

But after a while she came back.

" This place is... definitely not what I expected."

Olivia leaned in, voice low but brimming with mischief.

" Are we at a royal ball or some secret society gathering? "

Andrea bit back a laugh, casting a quick glance at Alfonso, who sat beside her with his usual composed calm but Andrea spoke

" Behave."

Olivia smirked, eyes sparkling.

" Where’s the fun in that? "

It didn’t take long before Olivia’s gaze locked onto a tall, dark-haired guest lingering by the bar, charming, confident, and equally playful.

The flirtation started with subtle glances, then small smiles across the room.

Eventually, Olivia excused herself, making her way toward him with the kind of effortless confidence that only she could pull off.

Andrea sighed, already anticipating the aftermath.

" I should stop her."

Alfonso’s deep chuckle broke through her thoughts, quiet, low, and entirely unexpected.

" Let her have her fun."

Andrea glanced at him, surprised. His face remained neutral, but there was amusement flickering in his dark eyes.

" You're not... worried about the scene she's about to cause? "

He leaned back, fingers lazily tracing the rim of his glass.

" I've seen the worse."

Andrea couldn't help but smile, shaking her head.

Half an hour later, Olivia returned, flushed and grinning, her partner in crime nowhere to be seen. She was a little drunk

" Don't say a word," 

She warned, pointing a finger at Andrea.

Andrea’s lips twitched, but before she could reply,

Olivia turned to Alfonso with a playful glint in her eye.

" She always this bossy."

Alfonso's gaze flicked between them, slow and measured, before settling on Andrea.