His eyes flickered with amusement, but he remained calm, as always. “Business is good, Alexandra. You know that.”
I took a step closer, my body language casual, but there was an undeniable edge to the way I stood near him. “I suppose so. But I can’t help thinking that maybe things could be… better.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly catching onto the undertone of my words. “And how do you suggest we make things better?”
I placed a hand on his arm, lightly, letting the touch linger just a little too long. “Well, I’m sure you’re full of ideas. You’ve always struck me as the kind of man who knows what he wants—and how to get it.”
Sebastian’s expression didn’t change, but I could see the shift in his posture, the subtle tension in his body. “Careful, Alexandra,” he said quietly. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”
But I didn’t care. I was tired of caring.
Just as I opened my mouth to respond, a hand gripped my wrist, hard. I turned to see Louis, his face dark with fury. Without a word, he dragged me away from Sebastian, pulling me toward a more secluded area of the gathering. His grip was tight, almost painful, and I had to quicken my steps to keep up.
Louis’s grip tightened on my wrist, dragging me further away from the gathering. I could feel the eyes of the crowd on us, the whispers behind our backs as we left Sebastian behind. Louis didn’t stop until we reached the edge of the room, the hum of conversation fading to a dull murmur.
He finally let go of my wrist, and I immediately recoiled, rubbing the sore spot where his fingers had dug into my skin.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” His voice was low, barely controlled, vibrating with anger. “You’re out there, making a fool of yourself—flirting with Sebastian, of all people. Do you even realize what you’ve done?”
“What does it matter to you, Louis? You’ve made it pretty clear that I don’t matter anymore. So why should you care who I talk to?”
Louis’ eyes narrowed, his face flushed with barely controlled fury. “You disgraced me, Alexandra,” he spat. “In front of the entire family. You think flirting with Sebastian makes you look clever? It makes you look weak. Disrespectful. And you’ve disrespected me, the entire mafia.”