Okay, so it wasn't plastic surgery but nevertheless, Sofia barely could recognize herself after the makeover. She was sporting a classic red lipstick look that was perfectly fitting her long black dress. Her brown hair was curled and tied in a bun with a few strands falling on her face.

This is when Valentino decided to knock and then peak through the door of her room. He was already wearing a white shirt and black pants and a suit jacket.

"So... ooof. Woah" he went through a mini-shock when he saw her.

"What?" Sofia asked worried that something is wrong.

"No, it's all good. It's just that you look different today", he grinned and handed her a wooden box "Alessandro wanted you to have it"

"What is it?" Sofia asked.

"Our mother's jewellery box" he explained.

Sofia sat on her bed to see the contents of the box feeling like a pirate opening a treasure chest.

"Holy shit" she gasped.

"Yeah there's a lot of crap in there" Valentino replied.

"Crap? Do you know how much this all costs?" Sofia asked wanted him to take his words back.

Valentino shrugged his shoulders not knowing what the fuss is about and left her room.

Sofia didn't need to take her time searching for the right look, she knew instantly what she wants to wear: pearls. It would be a great match for her dress.

Sofia still felt like a normal girl in this extraordinary outfit. Like someone who entered a fairy tale realm where she's a princess. She would never have thought that she will be able to afford a dress that costs thousands of dollars.

The magical moment disappeared when she saw in a mirror the marks on her wrists. She felt guilty because her actions. She fetched a pair of opera-length white satin gloves before leaving the room.

"Fia, good timing. We should go" Francesco said gently, looking at his silver watch. "By the way, you look amazing," Francesco said and everyone agreed. Sofia blushed and mumbled thanks.

They looked amazing too. All of them was wearing black, tailor-made suits.

"It's time for us" Alessandro announced.

It was Sofia's first time sitting in a limo. To her brothers sitting in a car like that just wasn't big deal. They arrived at Palazzo Biscari, a private palace owned by the host - Errico Santini, 20 minutes later.

Sofia knew little to nothing about Italian politics. All she knew is that he's the father of Felice. What else? Nothing, she saw his picture maybe once, she was never interested in politics. And she was living in this country for barely a month.

She didn't need to make any research about the Annual Foundation Banquet organized by the Santini family because her brothers told her everything she needed to know. The banquet was a fundraising event and after dinner, there would be an auction. This year's money would be donated to National Center for Missing Children.

When they entered the ballroom Sofia was stunned with a breathtaking view of the room with frescos on the ceiling, walls with hand-painted mosaic and a huge chandelier. The exceptionally ornamental decoration was known from late baroque and called "rococo style", she believed that the Ianniello house always had some of its elements but not to this extent, it was more toned down to not totally imitate Versailles as this place did.

But her focus quickly shifted from admiring architecture to actively searching for the Denaro family.

There they are. She found them. They were wearing similar official outfits as her brothers and unfortunately, they too looked like supermodels as well which made her feel like shit. Where's justice? Why did she get the worst genes in this family?!

Anyway. It was not the time to feel sorry, no. She wanted to take a good look at Emilio because she didn't know when she's going to see him again if she's going to see him. Sofia assumed the man standing next to Rosario and Alessio there was a striking resemblance between all three Denaro brothers.

Of all of her brothers, Emilio had the shortest hair and he was the most muscular one, which was impressive considering how buffed Valentino was because of his passion for football.

And suddenly, as if he instinctively knew that someone is watching him, he stopped talking to Alessandro just to look her in the eyes with his intense green eyes.

Sofia instantly looked away and focused her attention on the food buffet feeling his intimidating gaze on her back.

She had no idea that the person whom she had just seen will turn out to be her strictest brother.

🌙🌙🌙

"Am I looking bad or something?" Sofia muttered to Valentino, her face totally red. Maybe she overdressed? No, everyone here was looking very elegantly...

"Why?" He looked at her as if he saw her for the first time.

"Everyone is staring at me" she whispered and then nervously started analyzing the crowd of people with her anxious gaze, but she lost her focus because she had to slap his head away from her plate. He just tried to steal her mini lemon tart!

"No. They're staring because your look is lit. Don't mind them" Valentino dismissed her worries with confidence.

"Um... thanks?"Sofia replied.

This is the moment Valentino realized that his sister was blissfully unaware of how good she looked and that the guys surrounding her just waiting for the right moment to introduce themselves.

The truth is that this event was the first public appearance of the only sister of the Ianniello brothers. It was relevant to those who would be happy with business deals and tightening bonds between their families.

Speak of the devil and he appears. The first guy approached them and he obviously focused on speaking to Sofia, Valentino was on the other hand approached by his childhood friend, Lucia, and just like that two siblings separated.

"Have you seen this? Another one is talking to her!" Valentino said annoyed.

"It doesn't seem to bother her," Alessandro said calmly, taking a sip of whiskey.

"Doesn't it bother you? Some guy hitting on your sister" Valentino said as if Alessandro wasn't aware.

Alessandro looked at the boy speaking to his sister with boredom "As long as he's not doing anything inappropriate I don't see why they shouldn't talk" he stated simply.

"What if one of them will ask you for her hand after tonight?" Valentino kept asking questions.

"They will be dismissed" Alessandro replied while checking his phone.

"Look there's another one" Valentino muttered unhappily. "We need to buy her a Doberman"

"That's not such a bad idea," Alessandro said with amusement lifting his gaze from his phone. "But in a meantime, I will go get another drink" he replied and stood from his chair.

And with that their conversation ended and Alessandro knew Valentino is not satisfied. It made very much sense that he isn't there were a lot of sleazeballs here unworthy of his sister's attention but she's going to need to learn to do deal with them.

Alessandro grabbed another glass of whiskey from the server's tray, he preferred whiskey more from red wine the exact opposite could be said about Rosario Denaro who was now standing in front of him with a glass of dry, red wine in his hands.

"Rosario," he said, his voice perfectly cold and neutral.

"Alessandro, how nice to see you. I didn't know when we will have a chance to talk since you rudely rejected my dinner invitation. If I didn't know you any better I'd thought you're trying to hurt my feelings" Rosario sighed dramatically, the truth is he even liked to tease his archnemesis sometimes. Alessandro was so serious all the time, what a pain.

"Rosario, are you planning to make a scene today?" Alessandro asked, fully serious. His voice was quiet but clear.

"Scene" Rosario repeated slowly, to build up tension "No, not today. But do consider this exchange my last warning," he said and his voice went from cheery to threatening in a split second.

"And what is that suppose to mean?" Alessandro asked, his eyes narrowed. Both gentlemen have been staring at each other, not one planned to back down.

"It means that you need to give her back to her rightful home or don't blame me for what happens next" he replied, with a serious voice that rarely has been seen by anyone. After that he sent Alessandro a smirk before taking another glass of wine, rising it in theatrical gesture and saying "Cheers!" before leaving Ianniello brother to ponder about what his next step should be.

_______

Hi guys,

Do you think you could check out my story "Make me fall in love" and give me your honest opinion about it? It's been completed for awhile but was doing horrible in rantings 😔

Also regarding update issues - I could update daily before because I had a lot of stuff pre-written and some free time due to Christmas break but now the updates may be slower.