Two days passed after Bosco walked out of the gallery.
Two very quiet days.
No visits.
No gifts.
No sarcastic comments.
No mafia boss.
Riyana told herself this was exactly what she wanted.
And yet…
Something felt strange.
She stood in front of one of the gallery's large windows, pretending to study a painting while Elena watched her with narrowed eyes.
"You've been staring at that painting for ten minutes," Elena said.
"I'm thinking."
"About Bosco."
Riyana immediately turned.
"No."
Elena folded her arms.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Riyana sighed.
"Why would I think about him?"
Elena shrugged.
"Because you fought with one of the most powerful men in the city."
"That doesn't mean I care."
Elena tilted her head.
"Then why do you keep checking the door every time it opens?"
Riyana froze for a second.
Then she turned away.
"I'm checking for customers."
"Of course you are."
Elena smirked.
"Customers who are six-foot-tall mafia bosses?"
Riyana ignored her.
But Elena wasn't finished.
"You know what's interesting?" she continued.
"What?"
"He hasn't come back."
"Good."
"Not even once."
Riyana shrugged.
"That's good too."
Elena studied her carefully.
"But you expected him to."
Riyana didn't answer.
Because maybe… just a little… she had expected that.
Bosco didn't seem like the kind of man who gave up easily.
Yet he hadn't returned.
Not even once.
Elena suddenly snapped her fingers.
"Oh!"
"What?"
"I forgot to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"There's a charity gala tonight."
Riyana blinked.
"So?"
"So you're invited."
"I'm not going."
Elena rolled her eyes.
"You have to."
"Why?"
"Because your father personally accepted the invitation for you."
Riyana groaned.
"Wonderful."
Elena grinned.
"It's going to be full of rich people and important guests."
"Exactly why I don't want to go."
Elena leaned closer.
"And Bosco might be there."
Riyana's expression hardened immediately.
"I hope he is."
Elena blinked.
"That sounded threatening."
"Good."
That evening, the charity gala filled the grand ballroom of the Ravenza Royal Hotel.
Crystal chandeliers glowed above the crowd.
Elegant music floated through the room while wealthy guests talked, laughed, and drank expensive wine.
Riyana stepped inside, already regretting her decision.
"I hate events like this," she muttered.
Elena smiled beside her.
"You look amazing. Stop complaining."
Riyana wore a sleek black dress that gave her a powerful, elegant appearance.
People immediately noticed her when she entered.
But Riyana wasn't paying attention to them.
Her eyes scanned the room.
And then she saw him.
Bosco Leone stood near the center of the ballroom, speaking with several businessmen.
He wore a dark suit that made him look even more intimidating than usual.
Several people around him were laughing politely at something he said.
But his expression remained calm and controlled.
Riyana felt a strange tension in her chest.
"Relax," Elena whispered.
"You look like you're preparing for battle."
"Maybe I am."
Bosco suddenly looked in their direction.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
The room seemed to pause.
Riyana waited.
She expected him to walk over.
To say something sarcastic.
To challenge her again.
Instead…
Bosco simply looked away.
He turned back to his conversation as if she didn't exist.
Riyana blinked.
"What?"
Elena noticed it too.
"Did he just… ignore you?"
Riyana frowned.
"No."
But it happened again.
A few minutes later Riyana walked closer to the center of the ballroom.
Bosco stood only a few feet away now.
He was speaking with another guest.
Their eyes briefly met again.
And once again…
Bosco calmly looked past her.
Like she was just another stranger in the room.
Elena whispered,
"Okay that was definitely intentional."
Riyana crossed her arms.
"He's pretending."
"Pretending what?"
"That I'm not here."
Elena nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Riyana felt irritation rising inside her.
Why was he acting like that?
He was the one who came to her gallery.
He was the one who started everything.
And now suddenly…
He was ignoring her?
Riyana grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter.
"Let's go talk to someone else," Elena suggested.
But Riyana's attention stayed on Bosco.
Across the room, a beautiful woman approached him.
Tall.
Elegant.
Blonde.
She smiled warmly while speaking to him.
Bosco responded politely.
Even smiled slightly.
Riyana's grip on her glass tightened.
Elena noticed.
"Why do you look angry?"
"I'm not."
"You definitely are."
Riyana took a sip of wine.
"Good for him."
"For what?"
"For talking to someone else."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"You're jealous."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I'm irritated."
"Why?"
Riyana hesitated.
Then she said quietly,
"Because he's pretending nothing happened."
Elena laughed softly.
"Well… that's exactly what you wanted, right?"
Riyana didn't answer.
Across the room, Bosco continued speaking calmly with several guests.
But inside his mind…
He was completely aware of where Riyana stood.
He had noticed the moment she entered the ballroom.
The black dress.
The confident posture.
The sharp eyes watching him from across the room.
Marco appeared beside him quietly.
"You've looked at her three times already."
Bosco sipped his drink calmly.
"I looked past her."
Marco smirked.
"Sure you did."
Bosco didn't respond.
"Why are you ignoring her?" Marco asked.
Bosco's voice was calm.
"She made her opinion clear."
Marco nodded.
"So now you're pretending she doesn't exist."
"Yes."
Marco glanced across the room at Riyana.
"She looks annoyed."
Bosco allowed himself a small smile.
"Good."
Marco chuckled.
"You're both incredibly stubborn."
Bosco shrugged slightly.
"She wanted distance."
"And now you're giving it to her."
"Exactly."
Marco looked amused.
"You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"The moment you stop chasing her…"
He nodded toward Riyana.
"She starts paying attention."
Bosco followed Marco's gaze briefly.
Riyana stood across the room watching him again.
Her expression was clearly irritated.
Bosco turned away calmly.
"Let her watch."
Marco laughed quietly.
"This is going to get interesting."
And across the ballroom…
Riyana stared at Bosco Leone with growing frustration.
Because for the first time since meeting him…
He was acting like she didn't exist.
And strangely…
That bothered her more than anything else he had done.