Behind The Lens

ay pressing down on her. The city outside was alive, but Lily always felt like she lived on the fringes of it, a silent observer. She stretched lazily, the cool sheets against her skin remind

ly made her way downstairs. The scent of fresh coffee filled the air, and

her soft Italian accent, her eyes twinkl

asked, glancing around as if expecting her

I believe. But she says you

er empire slip, her career depended on it. She moved toward the living r

said, her voice soft but

lus a fitting for that new line. And I just got a call about a photo shoot. It's all packed,

row, her curiosity

he papers in her hands. "Che Leo want

ery, and the last time she'd seen him, she couldn't shake the feeling that something about him was dangerously magnetic. Their brief me

oice steady. She didn't want to admit how much the

mention much. Just that you're

stance from Che, or dive into the chaotic world he'd introduced her to. She wasn't sure if she was read

," Lily replied, sti

***

s desk in the massive office, a place that felt more like a war room than a corporate headquarters. His trust

got a problem. One of our operations in the south isn't running

ned cold, unreadable, as he scann

't know yet. But someone's been giving information to th

s fingers tracing the edge of the fil

er one of Che's trusted associates, stepped inside. His presence was like a gust of

almost reverent. "The studio. The photoshoot you aske

h an intensity that made Antonio paus

lexible. She'll show up if you get her interested enough." Antonio shrugged,

is chair, contemplat

leave but paused just before the door. "You're really going

suing anyone. But when someone catches my

set his sights on Lily Jolie. But she was no

over her. She wasn't sure why, but Che Leo intrigued her. She wasn't sure if she was ready to be pa

or not, their worlds we

***

riminal empire, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that her next move would determine everything. She knew the cost of g

f time before their pa

her mind kept drifting back to the photographer, the man whose eyes had seemed to see right through her, whose unsp

meone, or was there more to him? The way he moved, the calm yet le

amily. The reflection staring back at her was the image of someone used to control, to being in the spotlight. But deep dow

leader, but his mind was not fully on the matters at hand. He knew the value of keeping his emotions in check, of r

stance as he gazed out over Milan. His empire was vast, his influence stretching far

oice cut through his thoughts. The man had a

he view. "She's different.

en, Che. You know this game better than anyone. Y

ot falling for anyone. But

w heavier, the tension between them thick. Marco knew better than

world, don't you?" Marco pressed,

er to see things my way. If sh

to this than just a game of power and seduction. But Che had a reputation to uphol

side she kept hidden. She was no stranger to the pressures of the industry-pressures that made it difficult to form real connections w

s. She had no doubt that he was dangerous-men like him always were. But there was something mag

or her, and as much as her heart urged her to give in to the tempt

ne step ahead, and his next move would