Page 91 of Bound in Ruin

"I took Rosalia out tonight," I explain, my voice tight with frustration at my own failure. "I bought out the rooftop of a high-end Michelin-starred restaurant, brought in a singer... and she's smiling, Eleonora, but she isn't here. It feels like a business dinner. It’s not her style, is it?"

On the other end of the line, Eleonora bursts into a loud, warm laugh.

"Dominic, no," she giggles, sounding delighted. "It’s very romantic, I assure you, but it is definitely not Rosalia's idea of a good time."

"What is then?" I demand, desperate. "Tell me what an ideal date is for her."

Eleonora’s tone softens, excitement creeping into her words. "Rosalia loves life, Dominic. She likes being around life, not isolated on a glass rooftop. Take her to where people are! Look, take her to her favorite movie theatre—it's called Sunset Cinema. Get tickets to whatever is playing, a romcom is perfect. After the movie, drive her out to the beach. It’s usually completely empty at this time of night. Just order takeout, sit on the hood of the car at the beach, and eat together in the cool air."

A sudden weight lifts off my shoulders, clarity washing over me.

"Sunset Cinema. Then the beach with takeout," I repeat, engraving it into my head. "Thank you, Eleonora. Truly."

"Good luck, Dominic," she says softly before hanging up.

I immediately dial Keane.

"Boss?" Keane answers on the first ring.

"Keane," I snap, already stepping back into the elevator. "I need two tickets to Sunset Cinema. Whatever movie is starting in the next twenty minutes. Buy out the row if you have to, just get those tickets onto my phone in ten minutes."

Keane doesn't even hesitate. "Consider it done."

When the elevator opens back onto the glittering rooftop, I adjust my jacket, feeling a sudden surge of adrenaline in my chest.

Rosalia looks up as I return to the table, her dark eyes tracking me with a soft, curious expression.

I don't sit down. Instead, I reach out my hand toward her, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.

"Come on," I say smoothly. "We're leaving."

She frowns, looking down at her half-eaten plate and then back up at me with a confused brow. "Leaving? Dominic, we just got the main course... is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine," I say, keeping my hand extended. "Trust me. Come on."

She hesitates for a second before sliding her hand into mine. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

By the time we take the elevator back down to the garage and slide into the car, my phone buzzes against my thigh. I check it quickly under the dashboard—Keane delivered. Two digital passes for Sunset Cinema sit right at the top of my inbox for a showing starting in eight minutes. A strange, eager knot tightens in my chest. I really fucking hope Eleonora was right about this.

I pull out onto the main road and navigate the city traffic, watching Rosalia out of the corner of my eye. She looks out the window, completely clueless, resting her chin in her hand as the high-end dining district fades away into the busier, brighter streets of the city center.

When I pull up to the Sunset Cinema, the bright neon sign glowing red and yellow against the night sky, she freezes.

The frown vanishes instantly. Her jaw drops, and a massive, shit-eating grin spreads across her face.

"No way!" she gasps, turning in her seat to stare at me, her eyes practically sparkling. She’s practically vibrating with excitement.

This is it. This is the look I was desperate to see all night.

"Yes way," I answer, a rare, genuine laugh slipping past my lips.

She actually squeals, clapping her hands together like a kid on Christmas morning, before throwing open her car door.

We walk inside, and I instantly feel out of place in my tailored suit surrounded by teenagers in hoodies and couples in jeans. I’m completely uncomfortable walking up to the sticky concession counter, showing my digital tickets to a kid who couldn't care less who I am, and holding two enormous tubs of cheap, butter-soaked fucking popcorn. But I do it anyway, because the woman standing beside me is practically beaming with pure, unadulterated joy.

As we walk down the carpeted hallway toward our theater, she looks up at me, her grin softening into something thoughtful. "Dominic... why did we change plans? That restaurant was incredible."