Chapter 29 Your Home
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inside the bustling photography studio, the crew prepared lighting and backdrops for Acia, the top model known for her unparalleled beauty and sensuality. Her mere presence was enough to mesmerize everyone around her, especially the men.
“What are you doing?! Look at me! I’m filthy!” Acia’s sharp voice rang out, silencing the room. All eyes turned to the glamorous model as she glared at a plump woman who had accidentally dusted her workspace, sending particles into Acia’s pristine outfit. Her perfectly made-up face twisted with irritation.
“I’m so sorry,” the woman stammered, trembling. She knew how merciless Acia could be; rumors of her demanding staff be fired for the smallest mistakes circulated widely.
“Sorry isn’t enough! Look at my clothes; they’re ruined!” Acia hissed, brushing herself off as if the dust were toxic. Her piercing gaze bore into the hapless woman.
“I’m going to tell Herina to fire you!”
“Please, no! Don’t tell Miss Herina!” The woman pleaded; her voice desperate.
“Not my problem—”
“What’s going on here?” Herina’s calm but commanding voice cut through the tension. Acia turned, her expression softening instantly upon noticing Antonio entering the room with Herina.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Acia said sweetly, flashing a dazzling smile. “Just a minor mishap with one of the staff, but I handled it.”
Herina gave Acia a flat look before turning to Antonio. “We need to discuss the auction details. Can you spare a moment?”
“Yes, of course,” Antonio replied, his tone neutral.
“Don’t you have a shoot scheduled this morning?” he asked Acia.
“Not yet,” Acia answered, her voice syrupy. She shot Antonio a coy glance. “Why? Is there something you’d like to talk about?”
“It’s about the auction,” Herina interjected bluntly, cutting off Acia’s attempt to engage Antonio further.
Acia’s smile faltered for a moment, but she recovered quickly. “Will I be presenting the centerpiece diamond this time?” she asked hopefully.
“No,” Antonio said firmly. “Rose will be showcasing the major piece. You’ll be modeling the standard collection like the other models.”
Acia forced a tight smile, hiding her displeasure. “Of course. Maybe next time, then.”
Antonio remained silent; his indifference clear. Acia reached out to touch his arm flirtatiously, but Antonio gently removed her hand and stepped away.
“You should get back to work,” Antonio said curtly before turning to leave. Herina followed, throwing Acia an unimpressed glance.
 
Antonio made his way to the waiting room, eager to check on Rose. It wasn’t just that he worried about leaving her alone; he simply wanted to see her. Rossi wasn’t with him today, preoccupied with investigating Lorenzo, whose recent silence was unnervingly strategic.
Herina, walking beside Antonio, glanced at him thoughtfully. “You didn’t need to come here yourself. Everything is under control.”
“I wanted to ensure nothing goes wrong,” Antonio replied. “Rose will be modeling for this event. I’m concerned about her.”
“There’s no need to worry. I’ve managed these events before,” Herina said, her voice edged with mild exasperation. Deep down, she suspected Antonio’s concern for Rose wasn’t purely professional.
Antonio didn’t respond, his focus already shifting to the waiting room. Herina’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, her unspoken thoughts hanging in the air, but she chose not to press further.
Entering the waiting room, Antonio immediately spotted Rose engrossed in the auction documents. He strode over and sat beside her, his presence breaking her concentration. Rose glanced up at him, startled, before shifting slightly to create more space between them.
“Sit closer,” Antonio said, his tone casual. “If you have questions, I’m right here.”
“There’s no need,” Rose replied with a polite smile. “I’ve almost finished reading.” She started to rise, but Antonio’s hand darted out, catching her wrist.
With a gentle tug, he pulled her onto his lap, his powerful arms wrapping securely around her. Startled, Rose let out a small gasp, the papers she’d been holding scattering to the floor.
“Antonio!” she scolded, glaring at him as she squirmed in his grasp. “This isn’t your house!”
His lips curved into a mischievous smile. “So, if we were at home, this would be fine?”
Rose’s face turned crimson. “That’s not what I meant!” she protested, trying to wiggle free.
Antonio leaned closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered.”
“Let me go!” Rose hissed, her voice laced with frustration and embarrassment. “What if someone walks in?”
“Then they’ll see how much I care about you,” Antonio replied without hesitation, his tone laced with sincerity.
Rose froze, her protests dying on her lips. Antonio loosened his hold slightly, allowing her to slip off his lap. She ducked down to gather the fallen papers, avoiding his gaze.
“I’m serious about you, Rose,” Antonio said softly, his voice unwavering. “I’ll do whatever it takes to show you that.”
Rose straightened, clutching the documents tightly to her chest. Her heart raced at his words, but she forced herself to stay composed.
“You should focus on the auction,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, before retreating to her seat.
Antonio watched her with a knowing smile. Despite her resistance, he could see the flicker of emotion in her eyes. The battle for her heart was far from over, and Antonio was determined to win.