"Che cazzo amore mio (What the fuck my love)? What time do you call this?" Paolina stood in the grand entrance hall as Valentino entered the house, you by his side. Her arms are crossed and there is a deep scowl on her beautiful features as she stands before you both, dressed in a stunning red dress that accentuated all her curves, as well at the matching jewellery set you bought her for her birthday, telling her it was from her husband who had forgotten. "You're late! We missed our reservation! I got all ready for you and you don't even turn up to pick me up! No you leave me fucking waiting! For hours!"

She's angry, her arms waving about theatrically as she expressed herself. Slowly she's getting louder, complaining about how Valentino had left her again, cancelling his plans with her without saying anything and working instead. But you knew better. You had tried to warn him that he was going to be late but he ignored your warnings, instead taking the young attractive woman he'd been eyeing into his private room at the club. You were disappointed in him, cheating on his beautiful wife with any young thing that threw themself at him, despite your warnings that he would end up loosing Paolina with this behaviour. You knew you'd never be like him if you had the chance...

As you look up at Paolina, there are tears welling in her eyes as she glares at Valentino. With an angry huff at his lack of response to her, she cries out in anger, cursing Valentino out in Italian. "Vaffanculo! Non voglio parlarti mai più! (Go fuck yourself! I don’t want to talk to you ever again!)." Her voice is rough with emotion as she yells at him before turning around and storming back up the stairs to her bedroom.

At her outburst, Valentino sighs before turning to you, his voice gruff and filled with barely restrained anger. "Go to her. Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. I'm going back out... Damn woman has given me a headache." He groans before patting your shoulder and heading back out the main doors leaving you stood in the grand entrance hall with a choice.

"Ahah, like you really want to?" Paolina snorts mockingly from inside the bedroom before opening the door just enough to poke her head out, glaring at you with those golden honey coloured eyes that still manage to look so beautiful even when she's angry. "Fine." She steps back, letting you enter her private sanctuary.

The room is spacious and tastefully decorated in shades of pink and white, with a massive canopy bed taking up most of the space and expensive pieces of furniture surrounding it. A large wardrobe stands to one side with ornate carvings that match her matching set of chests-of-drawers. The air is perfumed with her usual rose scent, which clashes heavily against the frustration and anger emanating from her as she stomps over to sit on the edge of her bed.

"What do you want?" She asks bluntly, glaring at you as if it's your fault that Valentino is such an ass hole. "You're just like him," she snorts derisively. "Can't even stay out of trouble when I need someone to talk to."

Her bottom lip trembles slightly, betraying the hurt beneath her anger as tears well up in her eyes once more, but she quickly wipes them away with the back of her hand before they spill down her cheeks.

"Him? Ruining my night?" She snorts derisively, looking away from you as if the thought is entirely laughable. "You think that's what this is about? Me crying over him?" Her voice trails off and she shrugs, rolling her eyes in disgust at herself before continuing, "It's not him I'm upset with. It's me. I always end up chasing after the wrong people."

She pauses for a moment, seemingly lost in thought before looking back at you with renewed determination. "But that's not going to change anything. I can't keep doing this." She shakes her head, running her fingers through her messy blonde hair. "No. This time I'm gonna make him pay."

Her bottom lip trembles slightly and she looks away again, taking a deep breath before meeting your gaze once more. "I need you to help me," she whispers, the vulnerability in her voice making it almost unrecognizable as hers. "Please."

"Anything!" she cries out desperately, hands clenched into fists as she pleads with you. "You're the only one who understands how I feel! You know what it's like to be ignored and taken for granted by him." Her voice cracks on the last word, but she quickly composes herself again. "Just... make him see me. Make him want me the way he used to."

She leans forward, her eyes searching yours for any sign of agreement or sympathy. "Please," she whispers again, her throat hoarse from crying and shouting earlier. "Help me get my husband back."

"It doesn't matter! I just want him to see me again. Like he used to," she whispers hoarsely, her eyes shining with unshed tears once more. "Please, you're all I have left." She takes a deep breath and then looks at you pleadingly, reaching out to take your hand in hers, her warm skin against yours making your heart skip a beat despite yourself. "Please, help me."

Her grip tightens on your hand when you don't pull away immediately. "Please," she whispers again, her voice barely audible above the sound of her labored breathing. "Anything." Her eyes bore into yours, searching for something she can't quite name, a spark or perhaps reassurance that you won't abandon her like everyone else in her life seems to do.

"I don't know what I would do without you," she confesses softly, the words nearly strangled by the lump in her throat. "You're the only one who ever treats me right. Who makes me feel special." Her bottom lip trembles again and there are tears streaming down her cheeks now, silently tracking their way over her high, sculpted cheekbones to disappear into the plush pillow behind her head.

"Please," she whispers yet again, still refusing to let go of your hand despite everything, "help me get my husband back."

Releasing your hand with a small, sad smile, Paolina nods, eyes downcast as she bites her lower lip. "Thank you," she whispers, not looking at you as she speaks. It's clear that she doesn't want to seem too dependent on anyone anymore, but the vulnerability in her voice betrays how much your support means to her.

She takes a deep breath and then sits up straighter, squaring her shoulders as if steeling herself for whatever comes next. "I'll do my part," she says determinedly, meeting your gaze once more with a strength that surprised even herself. "Just... please, Tojii, don't let me down." There are fresh tears glistening in her eyes now, but she blinks them back before they have the chance to fall again, refusing to give into despair or self-pity any longer.

She smiles at you gratefully before leaning in and gently kissing your cheek. "Thank you," she whispers again, her voice so soft it's barely audible. "I know I can count on you." Her smile grows, becoming brighter as her eyes light up with hope for the first time in what feels like forever. "You're different from the rest of them, Tojii," she whispers, a hint of longing creeping into her voice. "And I don't want to lose that."

With one last look your way, Paolina turns and walks back over to her bed, climbing beneath the covers and facing away from you as she lies down, her back toward the door. There's a brief moment where you wonder if she's gone to sleep, but then she begins to sniffle quietly into her pillow, slowly regaining some of the composure that had deserted her earlier.

In your peripheral vision, you see one slender hand reach up to wipe at her eyes once more, and even though you can't make out the expression on her face anymore, it's clear she's still upset. You wonder how long it will take for things between them to be okay again, if they ever will. But for now, you have a task to complete, and you intend to see it through.

As you focus on your task of keeping Valentino's attention away from other women and making sure Paolina has every opportunity to shine in front of him, time passes slowly but surely. The date at the restaurant goes well enough; they laugh together and even share a few intimate glances across the table as their bodyguard watches discreetly from his vantage point nearby.

The month continues with similar outings: a picnic in the park, a night at the opera, even a weekend getaway to the countryside. Each time Paolina is there by Valentino's side, looking radiant in whatever dress or suit you have chosen for her. And each time she hopes that this will be the one where he finally sees her again, as his wife and soulmate instead of just another pretty face.

But despite all your efforts and hers, something still feels off between them. There's an awkwardness in the air whenever they are together now; a tension that wasn't there before Valentino's infidelity tainted their perfect world. Paolina never gives up hope though, her faith in you and your abilities somehow keeping her going despite the odds stacked against them both.

As the days turn into weeks and then finally a month since you began your campaign to win back Valentino's heart for Paolina, she approaches you one evening while he is distracted with work. Her eyes are bright with unshed tears as she looks up at you worriedly from beneath her eyelashes. "Did I do something wrong?" she whispers hoarsely. "Why won't he look at me like that anymore? Like... before." Her bottom lip trembles as more tears spill over onto her cheeks, leaving trails through her makeup.

You know you can't lie to

She dabs at her eyes with the soft cloth, sniffling as she blows her nose loudly before returning it to you with a quiet "thank you." Looking up at you through her lashes, she asks hesitantly, "What do I have to do? What can I do to make him see me like that again?" Her voice is pleading, hopeful, desperate for any answer that will fix this broken situation.

You know what the problem is; it's not Paolina. It's Valentino. But telling her that would only break her heart further. You wish there was some way you could make things right between them without hurting either of them in the process...

Taking the handkerchief back, she blows her nose one more time and then wipes away the last of her tears before blotting her red eyes with it as well. "I'm sorry," she whispers, looking down at the floor again. "I shouldn't be taking this out on you." She pauses for a moment, gathering herself before meeting your gaze once more. "But... I don't know what else to do. How can I make him see me like he used to?" Her voice is barely above a whisper now, filled with so much pain and longing it hurts just to listen to her.

Her eyes widen in surprise at your words, and for a moment she seems taken aback. "You think..." she begins, her voice quiet as she struggles to process the thought. "That I should look for love... somewhere else?" She shakes her head slowly, the motion jerky and uneven. "No," she whispers, a new wave of tears threatening to spill down her cheeks once more. "I can't do that."

She looks up at you with pleading eyes, reaching out to take your hand in hers again. "You don't understand," she says hoarsely. "He's all I have left. Even if he doesn't love me the way I want him to... I can't just give up on us." Her voice cracks on the last word, and she has to swallow hard before continuing, "I need him in my life somehow."

Her grip on your hand tightens, her desperation palpable as she searches for any sliver of hope or reassurance that things will be okay between them someday. She knows the world sees Valentino as this perfect man, but to her he's so much more than that. He's her whole world; her everything. And she refuses to give up on him, no matter how much it hurts in the process.

Her bottom lip trembles as she stares at her hands clasped together in her lap, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. She knows you're right; there is no easy solution to this mess. But giving up on Valentino seems impossible, no matter how much it hurts. "Please," she whispers hoarsely, looking back up at you with a pleading expression in her eyes. "Don't leave me alone with this."

Her hands reach out towards you again, begging for some sort of connection or understanding that is beyond her grasp. Despite everything, she can't help but feel drawn to you; to the one person who seems to understand how much she truly loves him, and just how little love she has left over for herself in return.

Her face crumples at your words, her hands dropping to her sides in defeat as she begins to cry softly once more. Of course you want a life outside of work and protecting the Castelli name; it's only natural. But she can't help but feel like she's lost something precious in the process. "I just... I need someone," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the sound of her sobs. "Someone to care about me."

The silence that follows feels like a weight pressing down on both of them; heavy and suffocating. There's an ache in Paolina's heart that seems to grow stronger with each passing moment, every word spoken only serving to drive another knife deeper into her already wounded soul. She's not sure how much more she can take before everything inside her simply shatters into a million pieces from the strain.

But even as she fights back tears and struggles for breath, she knows that you are right. You deserve happiness too; you have earned it through years of loyalty and dedication to Valentino and his family. And perhaps one day... maybe when everything has settled down and they have found a way to move forward together... there might be room in their world for someone else after all. But until then, she will remain strong, if only for them both.

Her sobs quiet down as your touch comforts her. "I know," she whispers, leaning into the contact gratefully. "But it's not the same." Her voice breaks, betraying the loneliness that still eats away at her even when she has you by her side. "Valentino... he was everything to me. And now..." She trails off, struggling for words as more tears spill down her cheeks. "I just want my husband back," she whispers finally, her voice raw from the pain of all she's been through.

The silence that follows is thick with emotion; regret, loss, and the lingering hope that somehow they can find their way back to each other despite everything. Paolina doesn't know how much longer she can keep going like this; pretending to be strong when all she wants is to break down and give in to the hurt and despair that threaten to consume her every waking moment. But for now, she will cling to what little comfort there is to be found in your presence, however fleeting it might be.

She swallows hard, steeling herself for whatever comes next as she asks quietly, "What should I do?"

She takes a shaky breath as she wraps her arms around you, holding on tightly. "I don't know what to do," she whispers into your shoulder. "I feel so alone." There's a desperation in her voice that makes your heart ache for her; a yearning to somehow make things right again, even if they never can be as they once were.

For now though, you'll just have to be enough. You're all she has left. And perhaps one day, when the dust begins to settle and Valentino finally realizes what he's lost... maybe then there might be room in his heart for her again. Until then, you'll do whatever it takes to keep Paolina safe and loved; even if that love can never truly be returned the way she hopes it will.

Tears well up in Paolina's eyes as she looks into yours; they're filled with gratitude and hope. A small smile touches her lips as you brush the hair away from her forehead, your fingers gentle against her skin. "Thank you," she whispers. "For everything."

She leans forward, her lips pressing softly against your cheek in a chaste kiss; a silent promise of love and loyalty that only strengthens with each passing moment they spend together like this. Her hands slowly move to rest on your shoulders, holding you close as she takes a shaky breath, trying to steady herself despite the turmoil within.

"I'll keep fighting," she tells you firmly. "For us, and for him. I promise." Even though it hurts her more each time she thinks about Valentino with another woman, Paolina knows that she can never give up on them; not while there's still a chance to make things right again.

Her heart clenches at the thought, but she knows you're right. There are other men in the world who could love her, even if it means letting go of Valentino completely. The pain of that loss is almost too much to bear... but maybe, just maybe, finding happiness with someone else would be worth it. Taking a deep breath, she looks at you intently. "I'll think about it," she whispers. "Thank you for caring enough to say that."

Her heart flutters at the thought but she can't help feeling hesitant. "I... I don't know if I could ever love someone else," she confesses in a small voice. "Valentino was my first love, and he's always been everything to me." She pauses, considering your words further. "But maybe it's time to start thinking about myself too, you know? Maybe there is something out there for me..."

Moaning softly into the kiss, Paolina tangles her fingers in your hair, deepening their connection. She's never been this close to another man before, and the sensation of wanting more is overwhelming. It feels so good to be desired like this; to know that someone else finds her as beautiful and alluring as she finds you. As your tongue dances with hers, Paolina can't help but wonder what else you could teach her about desire...

Moaning louder, Paolina arches into the contact as your hand cups her bottom possessively. The feel of your lips on her neck sends shivers down her spine; it's so intensely erotic she can hardly think straight. Her hips start to move against you instinctually, seeking out more friction, more pleasure from this unfamiliar yet intoxicating sensation. "You're making me crazy," she whispers breathlessly.