The soft murmur of the waves crashing against the shore was the perfect soundtrack to our intimate dinner. The boys had outdone themselves, arranging a beautiful canopy by the sea. Fairy lights twinkled above us, casting a warm, golden glow on our table laden with delicious food. The sound of the ocean provided a soothing backdrop, creating an almost magical atmosphere.

Conrad leaned back in his chair, a satisfied grin on his face. "So, what do you think, Thea? Did we do good?"

I took a sip of my wine, savoring the moment before answering. "You guys did great. This is perfect." I felt a slight pang of hunger, remembering the pizza I had devoured four hours ago. "Though, I have to admit, I'm still a bit hungry."

Conrad chuckled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Is that so? Maybe we should have ordered two pizzas then."

"Or three," I shot back, grinning. "But seriously, this is amazing. Thank you."

Miles, who was sitting across from me, raised his glass. "To good food and even better company."

We all clinked glasses, the sound of crystal ringing out in the night air. Elise, who was beside Miles, smiled warmly. "I'm so glad we could all be here together. It's nice to take a break from everything and just enjoy the moment."

Halfway through dessert, the conversation took a more serious turn as the boys started discussing business. Their voices lowered, the tone becoming more secretive. Elise and I exchanged glances, silently agreeing that it was time for some girl talk.

"Shall we take a walk?" Elise suggested, standing up and smoothing out her dress. "I could use some fresh air."

I nodded, rising to join her. "Absolutely. Let's leave the boys to their business."

We strolled along the beach, the cool sand beneath our feet and the gentle breeze tousling our hair. The moonlight reflected off the water, creating a serene and almost surreal scene. Elise turned to me, her expression earnest.

"Thea, I was wondering if you'd like to go shopping with me for the wedding. I don't have a lot of close friends, and I consider you a very good friend, even though we've just met."

I was touched by her words. "I'd be happy to, Elise. It would be an honor."

Elise's face lit up with relief. "Thank you. And I could really use your help with the designs for the outfits. Since you're a fashion designer, I thought maybe you could give me some advice."

I smiled, feeling a warm connection forming between us. "I'd love to help. I actually have a photo shoot two days from now with a few wedding designers. You should come with me. It could be fun, and you'd get to meet some of the best in the business."

Elise's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That sounds perfect. I'll take the day off and come with you. I need a break from the hospital, so this will be a nice change."

We continued walking, talking about our lives, and eventually, the conversation turned to the boys. I confided in Elise about Conrad not telling me about the succession party.

"I can't believe he didn't mention it," I said, a hint of frustration in my voice. "It's a big deal, and I feel like I'm the last to know."

Elise nodded understandingly. "The succession party is when Conrad takes over from his dad and becomes the head of the mafia clan. After he becomes head, he'll have more responsibilities and is expected to be engaged soon. That's how Miles and I got engaged, right after his succession party."

I looked at her, surprised. "Really? I didn't know that."

Elise sighed, her expression turning somber. "Yes. My mother passed away in a gang war, and I wasn't close to my dad after her death. When my dad asked me to marry Miles, I said yes. It wasn't an easy decision, but it felt like the right thing to do."

I felt a pang of sympathy for her. "I'm sorry, Elise. That must have been hard."

"It was," she admitted. "That's why I warned you at the anniversary party about the dangers of this world. I lost my mom because of it, and I don't want anyone else to go through that."

I reached out and squeezed her hand. "I understand. My dad is in a similar line of business, so I know the risks."

As if on cue, Conrad appeared, interrupting our conversation. "Hey, Thea. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

I looked at Elise, who nodded encouragingly. "Go ahead. I'll be fine."

I followed Conrad a short distance away, curious about what he wanted to discuss. "What's up?"

"Miles wanted to talk to Elise for a moment, so I called you over to give them some privacy," he explained, a playful smile on his lips.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help smiling back. "You're always so considerate."

"Only for you," he teased, stepping closer. "So, what were you two ladies talking about?"

"Girl stuff," I replied vaguely, enjoying the light banter, "And speaking of which, I need to tell you something."

Before I could continue, Elise and Miles rejoined us, looking relaxed and happy. "Ready to call it a night?" Miles asked.

Conrad and I exchanged a glance, our conversation interrupted once again. "I guess we'll have to finish this later," I said softly.

"Definitely," Conrad agreed, his eyes promising that our talk was far from over.

As we made our way back to the canopy, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about what the future held. The night had been full of revelations, and I knew there were more secrets yet to be uncovered. But for now, I was content to enjoy the present moment, surrounded by friends and the soothing sound of the sea.

Back at the canopy, the fairy lights cast a soft glow over our group as we settled back into our seats. Conrad reached for my hand under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze. His touch was warm and steady, a silent promise that he was there for me.

"Can we do this more often?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence. "It's nice to escape from reality every once in a while."

Miles chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I don't see why not. We all need a break from time to time."

Elise nodded in agreement. "Especially with everything that's going on. It's important to take care of ourselves too."

I looked around at me, feeling a sense of belonging that I hadn't experienced in a long time. Despite the complexities of our lives, there was a bond forming between us, one that transcended the dangerous world we were a part of.

Conrad turned to me, his eyes softening. "Thea, there's something I need to tell you too."

My heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"

He hesitated for a moment, glancing at Miles and Elise. "It's about the succession party. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you. But I realize now that you deserve to know everything."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever was coming. "Go on."

"The succession party is when I'll take over from my father as the head of the clan. It's a huge responsibility, and it means a lot of changes for us. I didn't want to burden you with it until I was sure about everything."

I reached out, placing my hand on his cheek. "Conrad, you don't have to protect me from everything. We're in this together, remember?"

He closed his eyes, leaning into my touch. "I know. And I'm sorry. I should have trusted you with this sooner."

"It's okay," I whispered, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "We'll face it together."

Miles cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "And speaking of the future, we should probably start thinking about our next steps. There's a lot to plan."

Elise smiled, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "And we have a wedding to prepare for. I can't wait to go shopping with you, Thea."

I grinned, feeling a surge of anticipation. "Me neither. It's going to be amazing."

As the night drew to a close, we gathered our things and made our way back to the cars. The drive back to the city was filled with laughter and light-hearted banter, a stark contrast to the seriousness of our earlier conversations.

When we arrived at my apartment, Conrad walked me to my door, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. "Thank you for tonight," I said, turning to face him. "It was perfect."

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. There's more where that came from."

"You had to open your mouth." I playfully slapped him on his cheek and he laughed throwing his head back.

"So, when's our next adventure, Mr. Mafia Prince?"

"As soon as you recover from tonight's escapades, Miss Fashion Designer."

"You know, I might just fall asleep right here on the doorstep if you keep me up this late again." A tired yawn escaped me and I cover my mouth with the hand of my hand.

"And then I'd have to carry you inside like a damsel in distress. It would be quite the spectacle for your neighbors."

I laughed, shaking off the sand off me on the porch.

"You should get some sleep too, you know. Mafia princes need their beauty rest. Especially with that party coming up. Can't have you looking like a raccoon with those dark circles forming." I pointed at his eyes and he smirked leaning against the doorframe.

"Only if you promise to dream about me. Beauty sleep is pointless if I'm not in your dreams." I stuck my tongue out and pointed towards it in response to his statement.
   
"Goodnight, Conrad. Try not to miss me too much." I said in a sing-song manner, feeling a distant burn in that back of my eyes. Damn I was tired.

"Too late. I'm already planning a hundred ways to keep you entertained day after tomorrow."

"Oops, no can do Mr. Maxwell. I've got a date day after." I smirked shrugging my shoulders. "Elsie and I have plans." I clarified when he raised an eyebrow in challenge. I moved a little closer to him and whispered in his ear.

"Maybe if you could top this date, I'll think about it."

As I'm about to move away, wrapped his arm around me, pulling me against his chest and then pinning me to the open door.

"Challenge accepted." His lips grazed mine like feathers as he spoke. "But don't blame me if you end up with a pet tiger or a private island."

"You mean the one you lost to Ryan in poker?" I teased, biting my lip. His thumb pulled it down, gently releasing it from my teeth.

"Did you really think I have just one island? Come on Thea. Think big." He pushed me further into the door, his hot torso completely pressed against my front.

"You really know how to make a girl feel special, Conrad." I said with a hint of sarcasm. Although I felt like royalty.

"It's a talent babydoll. But it helps when the girl is as amazing as you are." My heart flutters at his nickname and my stupid brain stopped functioning.

In an awkward movement, not knowing what to do, I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "Goodnight, Conrad."

"Goodnight, Thea," he replied, his voice a low murmur. "I'll see you soon." His words help promise.

I see his muscles figure retreating towards the motorcycle, and wave my hand as the engine roars to life and he disappeared into the night. I look around and let out a thankful sigh when I don't see the neighbors turning their lights on and popping their heads out to complain about the noise.

As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of optimism about the future.

I feel my body aching as my back hits the mattress. Looks like I'm skipping work tomorrow.

END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: STARRY CONFESSIONS
2071 words

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