Chapter 1 - READY?
The bodyguard was already flying backward when the ballroom went silent.
He crashed through a glass-topped table.
Crystal flutes shattered.
Champagne splashed across white linen.
No blood.
No serious injury.
Just shock.
Elena Rossi lowered her leg from a spinning kick with almost insulting calm.
Her black evening gown settled around her knees.
Her breathing barely changed.
She turned toward Isabella Conti.
“What’s wrong?”
Isabella stood frozen with a champagne glass halfway to her lips.
Elena tilted her head.
“Was my dance beautiful enough?”
Three minutes earlier, little Sofia Rossi had made a tiny turn near the edge of the dance floor.
One foot crossed behind the other.
Then a shy spin.
Isabella had laughed.
“The maid’s kid thinks she can dance?”
Sofia immediately hid behind Elena.
“Leave my daughter alone.”
Isabella looked Elena up and down.
Then raised her voice for the room.
“Fine.”
She pointed toward the dance floor.
“Dance better than me—”
Then lifted her glass.
“—and I’ll pay you one million dollars.”
Guests turned.
Elena stared.
“One million?”
Isabella smiled.
“If a woman like you can earn it.”
Then Isabella snapped at the nearby bodyguard.
“Get her out of my party.”
He grabbed Elena’s arm.
She broke the grip.
Spun.
Kicked.
Now he was lying in broken glass.
Dante Moretti rose from the head table.
“What the hell…?”
Elena removed her heels.
Placed them in Sofia’s hands.
Then walked barefoot to the center of the ballroom.
Her shoulders shifted.
Her spine lengthened.
One arm rose.
Her feet settled into perfect position.
Dante stared.
Something about the stance bothered his memory.
Elena looked at Isabella.
“Ready?”
The orchestra began.
Then the bandleader suddenly stopped playing.
He was staring at Elena too.
He whispered:
“Rossi?”
Elena looked over.
The man’s face changed.
“No.”
He shook his head.
“Not Rossi.”
Then:
“Elena Vale.”
May you like
Dante heard the name.
And immediately remembered where he had seen it.
