The DeLuca estate had been turned upside down.Florists marched through the halls like soldiers, carrying armfuls of roses and lilies. Seamstresses darted in and out of rooms with pins clutched between their lips. Security teams drilled new protocols around the property while the kitchen staff argued over hors d'oeuvres in rapid Italian. It was beautiful chaos and Aria was at the center of it.
"Do we really need twenty-seven chandeliers?" she asked, staring at the ballroom ceiling where workers were hoisting the glittering fixtures into place.
"Yes," Luca replied from behind her without hesitation.
She turned to glare at him. "Twenty-seven?"
He shrugged, all smug composure in his tailored black shirt. "It's symbolic."
"Of what? Bankruptcy?"
"Power, amore. Splendor. Wealth." He stepped closer, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Besides, you deserve to shine under every light in Italy."
She tried and failed to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "You're ridiculous."
