**Vivian — POV**
It's already October, and the autumn weather outside doesn't match my love for summer. Sitting in my office chair, I'm already bored to death. I'm a workaholic, and being idle for more than an hour is torture. I stand up and look at myself in the mirror, admiring my flawless appearance. With my short blond hair, light aqua eyes, white skin, and long, graceful limbs, I look like a model, measuring in at around 1.75 m.
I checked my phone and sent a message to my friends' group chat — Sabrina and Anna.
**Vivian:** "Hey girls, what's up? I'm bored to death."
**Sabrina:** "Same here. The patients at my parents' hospital never end. I'm so tired. Why did I choose to study medicine?"
**Anna:** "Hahaha, well, I guess it's because you're the most intelligent one among us, and your parents gave you a hospital."
**Sabrina:** "Yeah, thanks, Einstein."
**Vivian:** "Okay girls, stop. Who wants to go to that famous Italian restaurant?"
**Sabrina:** "You mean Under Milano Sky?"
**Vivian:** "Yes, exactly! Please, Sabby, say yes."
**Anna:** "What about me? I'm the third wheel here."
**Vivian:** "No, Anna, I know you'll accept already. That's why."
**Sabrina:** "Okay, Vivi. I'll come."
**Vivian:** "Amazing. So girls, be there at 8pm."
I put my phone away and looked at the clock — it was finally 5pm. I could go home and rest until dinner. I packed my things and headed out of the office. The city was crowded with people rushing in all directions, but I walked slowly, enjoying the cool evening air. I couldn't help but think about the upcoming dinner with my friends and the exciting night ahead.
By the time I got home and showered, the decision of what to wear came easily. Something simple yet elegant — a short black dress that accentuated my curves, paired with a pearl necklace and earrings. I went with classic black heels and applied my favourite strawberry-flavoured red lipstick. I was finally ready. I grabbed my Mercedes keys and drove towards Under Milano Sky.
As I walked towards my two best friends, Sabrina and Anna, who were already sitting at a table, I was reminded of how different they look, yet how perfectly they complement each other.
Sabrina — half French, half North African, a dentist by profession — stands at 1.62 m, making her the shortest of us three. She exudes a princess-like aura with her long, mid-length light brown hair, deep black Arabian eyes, and flawless snow-white skin.
Anna, on the other hand, stands at 1.68 m and has a more muscular frame from years as a professional swimmer. Yet despite her athletic build, she carries herself with elegance. Her olive skin, black eyes, and long dark brown hair give her a cool confidence, and her Brazilian origin adds a touch of that famous latina caliente style.
I smiled at my best friends and joined them at the table. Sabrina was already studying the menu with great seriousness, debating between pizza Margherita and lasagne — or possibly both.
Anna couldn't help but laugh at her as she deliberated.
"Choose whatever you want, girls," I said. "I'm paying tonight."
Sabrina's eyes lit up. "Really? Then both!"
"You eat so much and never gain any weight," Anna said, shaking her head. "I genuinely don't understand it."
I laughed along as they bickered. "Okay, let's order."
"Lasagne and pizza Margherita for me," Sabrina announced.
"Carbonara for me."
"A salad will do for me," Anna said.
Sabrina gasped dramatically. "Salad? Seriously? I know you're a famous swimmer, but you're not a cow to eat salad every day."
"I need to maintain my physique," Anna laughed. "I have a competition in one month." She paused, then added, "But one whisky won't hurt. I don't usually drink, but tonight I'll have one."
"Okay — a salad for Anna and three whiskeys for us," I said. "You can drink, right, Anna?"
"Normally, no," she smiled. "But one glass isn't that bad. I'll have one tonight."
The food was ordered and the three of us fell into our usual rhythm, laughing and talking about work, love lives, or the lack of them.
"The only love I've had recently is with the hospital," Sabrina said. "I don't even go outside."
"I go outside plenty," Anna said. "I just change boyfriends more often than I change my underwear. One month feels like a lifetime to me."
"With your track record, Anna," I said, unable to contain my laughter, "five days or a week is practically a long-term relationship."
The girls and I kept talking while we waited for our food. Sabrina asked about my father — I told her he was doing well. Then she glanced at Anna and asked about her brother, Eric.
Anna raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking about my brother, Sabby?"
Sabrina's face turned red immediately.
Anna chuckled. "It's okay — I know you two have been dating. Our family gym business is expanding in Brazil and he's there for a year or two to oversee it."
When the food arrived, we ate and chatted, until our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of a tall, muscular man with brown hair and deep black eyes, flanked by several bodyguards. The entire restaurant seemed to turn and stare.
"Why is everyone looking at him?" I wondered aloud.
Sabrina's eyes went wide. "Oh God, don't approach him," she said urgently. "Don't even look in his direction."
"Why?" Anna asked, turning to her. "Do you know who he is?"
Sabrina sighed. "My parents once considered working with the Santaro company, but after some background research, they discovered..."
"What did they find?" Anna pressed.
Sabrina's voice dropped low. "He's the boss of the mafia."
Anna and I stared at her in shock.
"Mafia?!" we exclaimed in unison.
"Let's just have our whiskey and forget about it," Sabrina said quickly. "Please."
"Yes," I agreed, standing and raising my glass with a grin. "Tonight is not about bad things. Let's enjoy ourselves."
As I turned around, I walked straight into someone. I saw my friends' faces freeze before I even registered what had happened. I turned to apologise — and felt my stomach drop. I had spilled my whiskey all over Valerio Santaro's suit.
"I'm sorry, sir," I said quickly. "I'll clean it up."
He looked at me for a long moment. Then he picked up a whiskey glass from the nearest table and poured it directly onto my face.
My friends were too stunned to move.
"I accept your apology," he said, a slow smirk on his face. "But I can't let you go without punishment."
He turned to Sabrina with a polished nod. "Happy to see you again, Miss Bellerose. As elegant as ever." Then his gaze shifted back to me, his tone edged with sarcasm. "Perhaps you could teach your friend a little elegance and respect."
Sabrina stayed silent, too shocked to respond.
I could feel the whiskey dripping down my face. I could feel every eye in the restaurant on me, my cheeks burning with equal parts fury and humiliation. He turned to leave, and I moved to go after him — I don't know exactly what I planned to do — but his bodyguards blocked me before I got anywhere close.
"It was a mistake, and I apologised!" I shouted after him. "How could you do that? A true gentleman would have accepted it!"
He stopped. Turned around slowly. The smile on his face was pure arrogance.
"But I'm not one," he replied simply.
And then he was gone.
Sabrina and Anna were at my side immediately, guiding me to the bathroom, wiping my face, trying to calm me down. After a few minutes, they agreed it was best to take me home.
"Come on, Vivian," Sabrina said gently. "Let's get you home so you can unwind. You've been through enough."
They brought me back, helped me inside, and made sure I was settled. Anna guided me to the couch with a firm but kind hand.
"Sit down and relax," she said. "You've had quite an eventful night."
I sank into the sofa, the anger and embarrassment still sitting heavy in my chest. My friends took their places on either side of me, close and quiet, offering the kind of comfort that doesn't need words.