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Amid this splendor, my attention was irresistibly drawn to the imposing sight of armed, sturdy men encircling Calista. In one secluded section of the restaurant, deep maroon velvet ropes demarcated her space and that of her dedicated team.

I recalled from my research that Calista was rarely without a small security detail, yet the scale of protection now surpassed anything I had learned just weeks ago.

It was evident she guarded herself with a seriousness born of past betrayals or looming threats.

I couldn’t help but wonder if this bolstered security was a reaction to a known danger or simply a reflection of her impassioned instinct for self-preservation.

Perhaps she suspected that my reputation alone might warrant caution even as I approached. After all, anyone stepping forward into an unknown meeting might feel compelled to ensure their safety.

In my case, I had arrived on my own, without an entourage.

It was evident that Calista posed no danger to me, and I hoped that, in time, she would see that I was not a threat to her either.

My gaze swept over the crowd, navigating through the sea of broad shoulders and wide stances surrounding her.

When I saw her, I gasped, utterly astonished. Her beauty was not just striking. It was captivating and mesmerizing, compelling you to look away with effort.

The Vitalis sisters were renowned for their extraordinary allure, a part of the lore that enveloped their family.

The photographs I had seen had done her no justice.

She was turned away, granting me the opportunity to admire her without restraint. The sunlight poured over her delicate features, highlighting the ethereal quality of her presence.

She was petite, with a bird-like grace. Her full lips curled upward, a soft smile resting casually yet elegantly on her face. Her high cheekbones were accentuated by the gentle waves of her long blond hair, which cascaded over her small shoulders and glittered under the sun’s bright rays.

At first glance, she appeared younger than twenty-two, a fact that had been my initial concern when I was asked to meet her. I was only six years her senior, but I knew those years were significant in shaping one’s character and experience.

Then, as Calista turned her focus toward me, I experienced the powerful effect of her fiery green gaze as it locked onto mine with surprising intensity.

My breath caught in my chest as a surge of excitement raced down my spine .

The innocence I had expected was missing from her eyes.

Instead, I found a profound wisdom that spoke of experience and understanding beyond her years. Before me was a disciplined woman who had learned to measure her reactions, to keep her thoughts and intentions carefully guarded.

Her smile was polite, calm, reflecting the strength and confidence of a woman who knew her worth. I encountered not a single trace of nervousness. Her unparalleled beauty was overwhelming, leaving me breathless.

To my surprise, I felt a stirring in my pants, my cock twitching. I had never expected such a strong physical reaction at first glance.

I prided myself on being the calm, composed one, the person unshaken by social encounters.

Now, here I was, feeling like an awkward adolescent, my knees weak and movements clumsy, all because of a single, curious arch of her brow.

I advanced through the crowd of guards, their formation slowly creating a narrow passage just for me. At that moment, they looked less like soldiers and more like vigilant keepers of a rare treasure: the Vitalis sisters. They stood ready to protect with every fiber of their being.

My throat tightened as I neared her, and an enchanting perfume enveloped me, its rich scent imprinting itself on my mind. I could detect hints of lilac mingling with layers of gardenia and a subtle trace of jasmine.

She rose to greet me, and once again, I found myself captivated by her delicate features. Her movements were graceful and sure, an elegant invitation extended as she reached out her hand to shake mine.

“Hello, Leon.” Her smile broadened, sending a surge of energy through me, as if her radiant face had the power to outshine the sun. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” I met her hand with mine, our clasp sealing the start of this encounter, and then gestured toward the chair opposite her.

Once she settled in, her chair tucked neatly underneath, I sat across the table. I observed her gaze fixate on me, her eyes bright and unwavering. Light surrounded her like water encircling a swan.

Her face radiated softness—full lips and lashes sweeping down—but each curve suggested a quiet determination.

The contours of her shoulders revealed sculpted muscles straining against her blouse.

A vein on her wrist arched like a taut string.

This firmness betrayed years devoted to refining both body and mind.

Underneath her composed exterior, I sensed storms she refused to name.

Images flickered in my thoughts: the men who’d dared to harm her, their faces contorted in fear as she stood before them, calm as a judge handing down a verdict.

I imagined her palm sliding across a pounding chest, the quiet crack of bone under her command. My fists tightened beneath the table, each suppressed breath fueling a rogue ache for justice.

Alongside that cold fury, another ache rose, a longing to stand in her confidence, to earn a share of that unbreakable trust she bestowed on so few. My pulse hammered against my ribs, which were suddenly too tight.

Could someone forged in fire ever allow another soul to come near?

“Have you been to this hotel before?” Her voice settled me back into the moment.

I brushed my palm along the tabletop’s carved floral pattern. “No. You?”

She tracked a seam in the wood. “First time. I’ve heard the cuisine here rivals the best in the city.”

I offered a small smile. “Then I’m glad we chose it.” The words tasted simple, but behind them lay everything I felt: admiration, protection, a desire to be the one she could finally trust.

She grinned once more, her expression radiant and inviting, and my heart skipped a beat. When the waiter approached our table, I almost sighed with relief, grateful for a distraction to latch onto.

If just the mere act of greeting her and basking in her presence had such an effect on me, how would I endure the next few hours without unraveling?

Once I ordered a bottle of wine, I shifted my focus back to her, quietly hoping my racing heart would calm. It was utterly captivating to see the sunlight flicker through her hair, creating a stunning glow.

At that moment, the breeze caught her silky strands, lifting them from her shoulders and revealing the smooth expanse of her long neck.

I swallowed hard, my breath momentarily caught at the sight. It felt as if I was witnessing something forbidden, and a powerful urge to press my lips against her tender skin surged within me. I quickly averted my gaze, struggling to regain my composure.

“I assume you have a critical eye when it comes to restaurants,” she remarked with a knowing smile.

“And why would you think that?” I inquired, meeting her gaze and maintaining an air of calm, despite the whirlwind of emotions her presence stirred within me.

She offered a casual shrug. “Because you’re in the industry yourself.”

“Ah, of course,” I acknowledged. “I must confess, I do have high standards.”

“When I picked this place, I considered that,” she continued. “They’ve received excellent reviews, and I thought you’d appreciate something a bit more upscale.”

“Well.” I chuckled. “I hope you don’t have the wrong impression, Calista. While I enjoy fine dining, I’m equally at home in more humble settings. One of my favorite places is a modest little café tucked away in Barcelona.”

Her laughter rang out, a melodic sound that struck me as the most beautiful thing I had ever heard.

“Fair enough,” she conceded with a nod. “And please, call me Cali.”

“Cali…” I let her name linger on my lips, savoring each syllable’s soft rise and fall. “What should we order from this luxurious establishment?”

Her fingers traced the edge of a leather-bound menu. She tilted her head. “I was studying the offerings before you arrived. The lamb looks irresistible.”

I flipped the menu open, scanned one page, then closed it with a decisive snap.

“I’ll have that too.” I offered a slow wink.

Her brows shot up. “You didn’t even look at the menu, did you?”

“No,” I admitted. As the sun slipped behind a cloud, the resulting shadow revealed her enchanting dark green eyes, now sparkling with tiny silver flecks. I could have gazed at them for hours.

“I trust you.” I lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug.

She leaned forward, a teasing smile tugging at her lips, revealing a single dimple. “I have good taste.”

“Which must be why you invited me tonight,” I replied.

“One hopes,” she shot back, raising her glass in a mock toast.

She swept her hair to one side, as the candlelight illuminated the graceful curve of her neck once more. A warmth unfurled inside me, making my cock grow harder with every second.

I blinked and raised the glass to my lips.

“So,” I said, settling back in my seat, “I hear you’re a formidable fighter, Calista…Cali.”

“I work hard at it,” she said, lifting her chin. “There’s always room for improvement, though.”

“Like perfecting a signature dish,” I offered.

She folded her hands on the table, watching me. “I’ve heard you’re a skilled chef. ”

“Sounds like we both did our research. My family business requires me to possess an elevated level of proficiency in the kitchen to succeed. My father made sure I knew everything there was to know.”

She regarded me with careful silence.

“I make a mean lamb moussaka. It’s my great-grandmother’s recipe, inked in her own hand.” I tapped an imaginary page on the table.

She traced a circle on the tablecloth with her fingertip. “You’ll need to prove it.”

“You want proof?” I asked, lifting a brow. “I believe I need to win this competition before I can prove that.”

“It’s hardly a competition,” she remarked, shaking her head.

“Isn’t it?” I countered in mock challenge.

“No, it isn’t,” she insisted. “I’m not exactly parading you around in swimsuits and giving out scores.”

“Hmm,” I mused, stroking my chin. “I think I’d have a decent chance at winning that too. Of course, it would depend on how many others I was up against.”

She fell silent for a moment as she looked at me. Finally, she spoke again. “I’m only meeting with one other potential candidate.”

The word “candidate” hung in the air between us, evoking images of a formal job interview. Perhaps that was what this was, in a way, on paper. However, sitting across from Cali, watching the sunlight dance through her wispy hair, felt far from any job I’d ever had.

“Just one other, huh?” I asked, feeling a surge of confidence. “That means my chances are pretty stellar. But you still don’t get to taste my moussaka until you make your choice.”

“So, you’re not bothered that you’re not my only option?” she inquired, arching a curious brow at me.

“Why would I be?” I replied with a casual shrug and a teasing wink. “I’m well aware that I’m a good catch.”

“Oh,really?” she challenged, her tone playful yet inquisitive.

“Absolutely,” I replied. “In all seriousness, I know my worth. But more importantly, Cali, I trust that you’ll make the choice that’s right for you, and that’s what truly matters. Whomever you choose will undoubtedly be a fortunate man.”

“And you’re suggesting you’re the right choice?” she queried.

“I’m not suggesting anything, Cali.” I leaned in, meeting her gaze. “You said it, not me.”

Her breath hitched, and she bit her bottom lip, her gaze never wavering from mine.

I sat back, nodding slowly as I savored the moment. Cali was breathtaking. She radiated strength.

Her intelligence was evident in every word she spoke. But it wasn’t merely these qualities that drew me to her. It was the way she made me feel like a man in the truest, most primal sense.

She awakened something fierce and protective within me, a longing to both devour and shield her from the world.

And that was a feeling I hadn’t experienced in what felt like an eternity.