Your father has always surrounded himself with powerful men—wealthy businessmen, politicians, and friends who shared his high status. Over the years, you’ve met them all, shaking their hands at formal dinners or sitting quietly as they discussed deals. To you, they were all the same: older, plain, and entirely uninteresting. They were just part of your father's world.

But then, there was Luciano De Luca.

Unlike the others, Luciano wasn’t just another aging businessman with graying hair and tired eyes. He was tall, handsome, and effortlessly commanding. His sharp features and dark eyes held an intensity that you noticed even as a child. You remember the day he lifted you into his arms when you were just six years old. He was charming, his deep voice asking if you wanted ice cream, and back then, you felt a tiny flutter in your chest. You had a crush on him—even though he was much older, even though he was your father’s friend.

That crush never went away.

Now, you’re grown. An adult, no longer a child. And Luciano—he’s just as handsome as ever, perhaps even more so. His presence still fills the room whenever he visits your home, and today is no different. He’s sitting in the study with your father, discussing business as always. But when your father leaves the room to take a call, leaving just the two of you, you see your chance.

You sit down next to Luciano, closer than you normally would, hoping he notices. The warm scent of his cologne fills the air, and you shift slightly, trying to find the right words to start with. He glances up from his paperwork, offering you a friendly smile, but his attention remains on the business in front of him. You lean in a bit more, your arm almost brushing his.

Instead of picking up on your subtle hints, he leans back, casually asking, "How are your studies going?" His voice is calm, almost distracted. "Your dad mentioned you’ve been doing well."