Riyana had a simple plan.
Avoid that devil Bosco.
Avoid mafia gatherings.
Avoid any place where powerful criminals liked to appear.
Simple.
At least… that was the plan.
But Ravenza was not a small city when it came to power.
Every major business, club, or high-class event somehow connected to one of the crime families.
Which meant avoiding Bosco completely was nearly impossible.
Still, Riyana tried.
For the next few days, she stayed busy with her own work. She spent time at the art gallery she managed downtown, far away from the dark world her father ruled.
Paintings.
Quiet conversations.
Soft music.
This was the kind of world she preferred.
Not guns.
Not blood.
Not men like Bosco.
She was arranging a painting on the wall when her friend Elena approached her.
"You've been quiet lately," Elena said, studying her carefully.
"I'm always quiet."
"No," Elena said. "This is different quiet."
Riyana sighed.
Elena had known her long enough to notice when something was bothering her.
"What do you want to know?"
Elena leaned against a nearby table.
"Did something happen at the party last week?"
Riyana froze for a second.
Then she continued adjusting the painting.
"No."
Elena narrowed her eyes.
"Riyana."
"What?"
"You're lying."
Riyana turned around and crossed her arms.
"Why would you assume that?"
"Because your father's enemies were at that party."
Riyana looked away.
"And?"
"And I heard something interesting."
Riyana raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Elena smirked.
"You spoke with Bosco."
Riyana nearly dropped the frame in her hand.
"Who told you that?"
"Elena always finds out things."
Riyana groaned.
"Fantastic."
"So it's true?"
Riyana placed the painting down and rubbed her temples.
"Yes. I spoke to him."
Elena's eyes widened.
"And you're still alive?"
"Very funny."
"Riyana, that man is terrifying."
"I noticed."
Elena leaned closer.
"So… what happened?"
Riyana shrugged.
"Nothing."
"You talked for nothing?"
"He tried to flirt with me."
Elena blinked in disbelief.
"The Bosco?"
"Yes."
"And you?"
"I told him he was arrogant."
Elena burst out laughing.
"You insulted the most powerful mafia boss in Ravenza?"
"Several times."
Elena wiped tears from her eyes.
"Oh my God… I wish I had seen that."
Riyana shook her head.
"It wasn't funny."
Elena looked curious.
"So what did he do?"
Riyana hesitated for a moment.
Then she sighed.
"He smiled."
Elena blinked again.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Elena frowned thoughtfully.
"That's… strange."
"What is?"
"Men like Bosco aren't used to rejection."
"Well, he should get used to it."
Elena crossed her arms.
"You really don't like him."
"I don't like any man like him."
"Why?"
Riyana's voice turned colder.
"Because men like Bosco destroy lives."
Elena didn't argue.
She knew Riyana's past.
She knew why Riyana didn't trust men.
But something about this situation felt… unusual.
"Elena?" Riyana said suddenly.
"Yes?"
"If you ever see that man near me again…"
Elena smirked.
"You'll run away?"
"No."
Riyana picked up another painting frame.
"I'll walk in the opposite direction."
Elena laughed again, but inside she was curious.
Very curious.
Because in Ravenza, when Bosco became interested in someone, things rarely stayed simple.
And Riyana didn't seem to realize that yet.
At the same time, across the city…
Bosco stood on the balcony of his penthouse.
The night wind moved his dark hair slightly as he looked down at the glowing city streets.
Marco stood beside him.
"You're doing it again."
Bosco didn't look at him.
"Doing what?"
"Thinking about her."
Bosco smirked slightly.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yes."
Marco sighed.
"Boss… you've been like this for three days."
Bosco leaned on the railing.
"Three days without seeing her."
Marco shook his head.
"You sound like a teenager."
Bosco chuckled.
"I've never met a woman like her."
"That's because most women aren't brave enough to insult you."
Bosco laughed quietly.
"Exactly."
Marco looked at him seriously.
"You're really interested in her."
Bosco didn't deny it.
Instead, he said something unexpected.
"She's avoiding me."
Marco blinked.
"How do you know?"
Bosco's smile returned slowly.
"Because I've been looking."
Marco stared at him in disbelief.
"You've been looking for her?"
Bosco finally turned toward him.
"For three days."
Marco shook his head again.
"This is unbelievable."
Bosco's voice dropped slightly.
"She's stubborn."
Marco sighed.
"And you like that."
"Very much."
Marco crossed his arms.
"So what's the next move?"
Bosco's eyes darkened with amusement.
"She believes she can stay away from me."
"And?"
Bosco's smile became dangerously confident.
"I'm going to prove her wrong."
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
Bosco turned toward the door calmly.
"Simple."
He picked up his coat.
"I'm going to visit her."
Marco stared.
"Visit… where?"
Bosco smirked.
"At the art gallery she works at."
Marco groaned.
"Oh no."
Because one thing Marco knew about Bosco…
When Bosco decided he wanted something—
Avoiding him became impossible.
And tomorrow, whether she liked it or not…
Riyana was going to see him again...