Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Wouldn't Be Bought
Their first date lasted four hours.
Their second ended in an argument.
Their third almost didn't happen.
Dating Luca Moretti came with complications Sofia hadn't anticipated.
Reservations suddenly became private dining rooms.
Restaurants cleared tables around them.
Valets refused Luca's money because they were afraid to accept it.
People stared.
Sofia hated it.
After their second date, she stopped beside Luca's car.
"This isn't working."
His face changed.
"What isn't?"
"This."
She gestured around.
"Everyone treating me differently because I'm with you."
"I can't control them."
"You control almost everything else."
"Apparently not you."
"Definitely not me."
Luca looked away.
Sofia immediately recognized the expression.
It was the same one from Bellini's.
The lonely stranger.
She softened.
"I'm not ending this."
He looked back.
"I'm saying I don't want your world swallowing mine."
"What do you want?"
"My job."
"You hate your job."
"I hate double shifts. I don't hate working."
"Fine."
"My apartment."
"The locks are terrible."
"Luca."
"Fine."
"My friends."
"Obviously."
"And Noah gets his opportunities because he earns them."
"He did."
She nodded.
"Then we're good."
Luca stepped closer.
"My turn."
"Go ahead."
"If there's danger, you tell me."
"Fine."
"You don't walk toward suspicious cars."
"That happened once."
"You walked directly toward trained security officers."
"They were following me."
"And if something bothers you, you tell me instead of pretending you're fine."
Sofia stared at him.
"Did you just use my own line against me?"
"Yes."
"That's irritating."
"I learned from you."
She smiled.
Months passed.
Noah earned the internship without Luca's interference.
Then earned a full scholarship from his university.
Bellini's became busier after customers discovered Luca Moretti occasionally ate there.
Mr. Romano wanted to advertise it.
Sofia refused.
"No signs."
"But business!"
"No."
"No social media?"
"No."
"One photograph?"
"Mr. Romano."
"Fine."
Luca continued coming anyway.
Sometimes alone.
Sometimes with Sofia after her shift.
He always ordered the soup.
One evening, Sofia sat across from him at the window table.
"You know that's chicken soup, right?"
"Yes."
"You don't have to order it every time."
"I like it."
"You hated soup before meeting me."
"I had poor judgment."
She laughed.
Then Luca placed a small box on the table.
Sofia immediately pointed at him.
"No."
"You haven't opened it."
"I know what boxes that size mean."
"Maybe it's earrings."
"Is it?"
"No."
"Luca."
"Open it."
She stared at him.
Then slowly opened the box.
A ring.
Simple.
Elegant.
Nothing enormous.
Sofia looked surprised.
"You didn't buy something ridiculous."
"I was strongly advised against it."
"By whom?"
"Marco."
She laughed.
Luca moved from his chair and knelt beside her.
The restaurant noticed.
Sofia covered her face.
"Oh, no."
"What?"
"Everyone is watching."
"They're terrified of looking away."
"Luca."
He smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
"I spent most of my life believing people stayed because of what I could do for them."
Sofia lowered her hands.
"You stayed when you thought I was nobody."
"You were never nobody."
"I know that now."
He took her hand.
"You asked if I was okay when everyone else was too afraid to ask anything."
Sofia's eyes softened.
"You weren't okay."
"No."
"Are you now?"
Luca looked at her.
"Better."
She smiled.
"That's not an answer."
He laughed.
"Yes."
"Good."
"Sofia Bennett, will you marry me?"
She stared at him.
Then she glanced at the ring.
Then back at Luca.
"One condition."
His eyebrows rose.
"Of course."
"You don't buy Bellini's."
Mr. Romano shouted from across the restaurant.
"Ignore her!"
Everyone laughed.
Even Luca.
"Anything else?"
"Yes."
"Go ahead."
"You keep asking."
"Asking what?"
"What I want."
Luca nodded.
"Always."
Sofia held out her hand.
"Then yes."
For perhaps the first time in Bellini's history, the entire restaurant erupted in applause.
Luca slid the ring onto her finger.
Marco raised his glass from the bar.
"Finally."
Sofia looked at him.
"You knew?"
"Everyone knew."
Luca stood.
Sofia wrapped her arms around him.
Then she whispered beside his ear.
"You're still paying for dinner."
Luca laughed.
"Yes, ma'am."
But their story wasn't finished.
Because six months later, on the morning of their wedding, Sofia would discover one final secret Luca had kept from her.
And this time, it wasn't about betrayal.
May you like
It was about the future they were about to build together.
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