Page 6 of Alessio DeLuca

I nod and blow her a kiss as she dashes off.

I lean back in my chair and sigh. If only things were as simple as Nia makes them out to be. A quick fuck and all this unresolved tension evaporates. Poof.

But nothing about Alessio DeLuca is simple. He’s a complication wrapped in an enigma, topped with a sprinkle of danger. And I… I’m just the I.T. girl.

Time to face reality. I toss my empty cup and head to the office. Maybe losing myself into coding will take my mind off a certain pair of piercing blue eyes.

Yeah, and maybe I’ll win the lottery and quit this life of frustration. A girl can dream.

But in my dreams, it’s not binary that fills my head. It’s a husky voice whispering filthy promises in my ear as firm hands map my aching body. It’s the scrape of stubble on my inner thighs, the wet heat of a skilled tongue parting my folds.

In my dreams, Alessio DeLuca isn’t a complication. He’s the solution to every desperate craving I’ve ever had.

Too bad I always wake up.

Maybe it’s time I explore some of my other dreams. I’ve been playing with a business idea for years, crafting a detailed plan, pouring every ounce of my extra time and energy into it. A high-end matchmaking service that can make your ultimate romance book fantasies come to life.

So many women out there are just like me and Nia. Spending our nights with our noses buried in steamy romance, dreaming of the perfect man to sweep us off our feet. What if I could make those dreams a reality? Match lonely hearts with the real deal -their favorite book boyfriends?

Of course, it wouldn’t be cheap. The startup costs alone are enough to make my head spin. Thorough background checks. Psych evals. Medical screenings.

It’s a crazy idea, I know. A total gamble. But I know it could be a game-changer and my golden ticket out of this dangerous world and into a life of freedom.

I just need to iron out the details…. and an investor with deep pockets and a taste for the unconventional. An investor like Alessio DeLuca…

Three

Chapter 3

Maty

I have to convince Alessio to back my business idea. Invest his money and resources into my little startup. I want to offer an amazing service. Safe and efficient. With screenings so thorough that the F.B.I. will envy us. I want the women who come to us to know they’re in safe hands. And the men who sign up to be their fantasies have no doubt about discretion and confidentiality.

But that will take a lot! Even with my considerable savings and tech skills, I can’t pull this off by myself.

I take a deep breath, smoothing down the front of my shirt as I step into Lessio’s office. He’s sitting behind his massive desk, brow furrowed -as usual- as he scans a stack of documents. He looks up when I walk in, his intense gaze locking on mine.

“Maty,” he says, voice low and smooth. “What’s up?”

I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “I have a proposal for you,” I say, my voice coming out steadier than I feel. “A business opportunity I think could be very lucrative for the family.”

He raises an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “That so?”

I step forward, laying a folder on his desk. “A matchmaking agency,” I say, my voice growing stronger with each word. “Exclusive, high-end,safe and confidential.”

He stares at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he throws his head back and laughs. The sound is rich and deep. “You want me to invest in a fucking dating service?”

I feel my temper rise, my chin jutting out. “It’s more than that,” I snap, voice hot with irritation. “It’s a chance to tap into a market that’s been ignored by the traditional matchmaking industry. There are millions of single women out there who only get their fill of romance and sex through books. Me included. We’re invested in the stories, the characters. We have favorites. We fantasize about them. I know this is viable, Less’.”

He leans forward, elbows resting on the desk. “And what makes you think anyone would pay for something they could get for free just walking into any bar?”

I meet his gaze head-on, refusing to back down. “Because we’re not just selling a service, boss. We’re selling a dream. The chance to be matched with the man or woman of your fantasms.”

He scoffs, shaking his head. “That’s ridiculous. People don’t want to date fictional characters, Maty. They want real, flesh-and-blood partners.”

“Do they?” I counter, my voice growing excited. “People are desperate for escape. A chance to step outside of their ordinary lives and experience something exciting.”

He stares at me, eyes narrowing. “And you think you can provide that? You think you can make people’s fantasies come true?”

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