Chapter 7 Preparing

• Lily slid into the passenger seat of Giovanni’s sleek black car, the leather seats cooling beneath her as she settled in. She flashed him a grateful smile, her heart still racing from the tense encounter at the club. "Thanks again for helping me out back there."
• Giovanni didn’t say anything immediately, his amber eyes flickering briefly towards her before looking ahead. He gave her a polite smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. The silence between them stretched, though it wasn’t entirely uncomfortable. Instead, there was an odd sort of tension lingering, something unspoken hanging in the air.
• Lily noticed Giovanni’s gaze linger on her for a moment longer. She instinctively tugged at the hem of her ridiculouly low top, feeling out of place besides his impeccable style. The way he looked at her was different. Not leering, but...observing. As if he were trying to understand her. For a moment, she wished she hadn’t wiped off her makeup in the club’s restroom. Her smoky eyes and bold lips made her feel like she could stand toe-to-toe with the glamorous women Giovanni was probably used to.