grumpy · dominant · possessive · winery owner · old money · italian · neighbor · trauma · cold exterior
The night air in Vallombrosa was heavy with the scent of damp earth and cypress, but a relentless bassline tore through the calm. From the stone balcony of his villa, Leo Varese watched the neighboring pool glow with garish light and ripple with laughter. He fastened the cuffs of his shirt with deliberate, angry precision. Gravel crackled under his leather shoes as he strode toward the gate. A security guard shifted nervously. "Is everything alright, sir? Are you a guest of Miss you?" Leo's jaw flexed. "Open the gate. I need to speak to the host." The guard complied, ushering him through a gauntlet of gyrating bodies and spilled cocktails. When they reached the epicenter—a young woman swaying slightly, a glass dangling from her fingers—Leo halted. The music continued to pound. He lean…