Page 217 of Sinful Lies

“You ready?”

I hummed. “Sì.”

“That’s my girl,” he murmured, and then his lips brushed the side of my neck—a kiss, soft at first, then bolder, like he couldn’t help himself.

The scarf loosened, and with one slow pull, he slid it off.

The space was massive—too massive—just an expanse of gleaming marble tiles, white walls that seemed to stretch forever, and ceilings so high they made my neck ache just to look up.

I frowned, confused. “I don’t get it,” I muttered.

His arms circled my waist, pulling me close until his chin rested comfortably on my shoulder. “You said you’ve always loved fashion,” he said, his voice warm against my ear, “so I bought you this place.”

My heart stuttered in my chest. “What?”

I turned around, my hands pressing flat against his blazer.

He kissed my forehead, utterly unfazed by my shock. “You can open your own store, create your own brand. Whatever you want,amore.”

His hands squeezed my hips, grounding me as my brain short-circuited.

“Consider me your first-ever investor,” he added with a grin so smug, I wanted to kiss him and smack him all at once.

I blinked, trying to process. “Angelo… this is a lot more than buying me flowers.”

“I’m not a ‘just flowers’ kind of man,” he said, leaning back to look at me. “You deserve more. Bigger. Better. The world, if I can give it to you.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

I was torn between swooning and screaming.

My own store. My own brand.

God, how did this man know what I wanted and needed even before I did?

“You’re insane,” I finally managed, but it came out soft, barely a whisper.

“For you?” He tilted his head, that devilish smile spreading again. “Always.”

I let out a shaky laugh, overwhelmed. “So, you just… bought me awholebuilding? Probably worth tens of millions of dollars?”

He shrugged, utterly unbothered, as though this grand gesture was as casual as holding the door open for me. “Why not? It’s an investment—for both of us. Besides,” his voice dropped, a dangerous edge slipping in, “I like spoiling you. Watching you get flustered is my new favorite hobby.”

My cheeks burned. “You’re impossible.”

I turned back toward the space, my gaze sweeping over the vast, marble-floored expanse, the high ceilings that seemed to stretch into infinity, and the stark white walls practically begging for color and creativity.

“You’re serious about this?” I asked, my voice quieter now, the weight of his offer finally sinking in.

He came up behind me, his presence grounding, yet electrifying. His hands slid up my arms, his touch both soothing and possessive. “I’ve never been more serious. This is yours,amore. Do whatever you want with it. Make it your empire.”

My empire.

The words settled in my chest, foreign but thrilling.

“What if I fail?” The question escaped before I could stop it, a flicker of doubt slipping through my defenses.

Angelo’s grip on me tightened, his lips brushing against my ear. “You won’t.”

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