CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN – IT ALL COMES TOGETHER

Later, as Alessandro was preparing to leave, he pulled Joan aside. "You've done something remarkable here, cara," he said softly. "I knew you would." Joan felt her cheeks flush. "Thank you, Alessandro. For everything. I couldn't have done this without your support." He reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was intimate, charged with unspoken emotion. For a moment, Joan thought he might kiss her. But then he stepped back, a hint of regret in his eyes. "I'll see you soon," he said, his voice husky. "At the opening." As Joan watched him go, she felt a complex swirl of emotions. Gratitude, attraction, and a nagging sense of guilt. She pushed the feelings aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. The night before their official opening, Joan and Zoe stayed late at the office, making sure everything was perfect. As they stood in the lobby, taking in the sight of their dream finally realized, Zoe turned to Joan with a mischievous glint in her eye. "