Heavy rain pummeled Milan mercilessly that night. Outside the lobby of Hotel Palazzo Cordusio, reporters' camera flashes and the roar of car engines mingled with the crack of thunder.
Sienna Brooks stumbled through the hotel's glass doors, breathing hard. The blue evening gown she wore was already torn at the hem, dragging across the cold marble floor. One of her high heels had snapped, forcing her to walk with a slight limp while clutching a small suitcase.
She had just fled her lavish pre-wedding party at Lake Como. Without her phone and carrying only one credit card she hoped her ex-fiancé hadn't blocked.
"Excuse me, I need a room for tonight. Anything you have available," Sienna said half under her breath to the male front-desk clerk standing behind the mahogany counter.
The clerk looked Sienna up and down, one eyebrow rising at her torn dress and her drenched, curly hair. "Good evening, Signorina. I'm terribly sorry, but it's Milan Fashion Week this week. Every hotel in the city center is completely booked."
"Please," Sienna cut in quickly. She leaned forward, her eyes pleading. "Just one small room. I don't even mind if it's under renovation. I can't go back outside."
Before the clerk could answer, a powerful shove from beside Sienna nearly sent her sprawling. A tall, broad-shouldered man dressed entirely in black had suddenly appeared at her side and placed an American passport on the counter.
The man wore a dark trench coat still dripping with rainwater. He had just removed his sunglasses, revealing cold, sharp gray eyes that were utterly unfriendly. Mateo Sterling.
"I need the safest room you have. Now," Mateo said. His voice was deep and heavy, allowing no refusal.
Sienna snorted loudly and whipped her head toward the man beside her. "Excuse me? I was talking first, in case you didn't notice!"
Mateo didn't even look at Sienna. He merely glanced at his expensive watch before fixing his gaze on the clerk again. "I'll pay triple. Give me the room key now."
"Hey! Are you listening?" Sienna slapped the front desk, trying to reclaim the clerk's attention. "I got here first! This arrogant man just cut in line!"
Only then did Mateo turn his head. He looked Sienna up and down. His gaze paused briefly on her torn dress and the eye makeup slightly smeared by the rain.
"I don't have time to argue with a crazy person."
"What did you say?" Sienna glared, unable to believe how utterly devoid of manners this man was. "I'm not crazy! I just need a room, and you just cut me off!"
"Enough, sir, ma'am," the clerk interrupted, raising both hands. He stared at his computer screen with a furrowed brow, then looked back and forth between Mateo and Sienna.
"What's the problem?" Mateo asked curtly.
The clerk let out a heavy sigh. "There's severe overbooking tonight, and there's only one room left in this entire building."
"I'll take it," Mateo cut in immediately, without hesitation. "How much?"
"Wait!" Sienna slammed her credit card onto the counter, right beside Mateo's passport. "I reached this desk first! That room is mine!"
"I'll pay cash or transfer it right now, whatever the amount," Mateo replied, his voice calm but forceful. "I need somewhere the media out there can't access."
Sienna squared her shoulders, challenging Mateo's gray-eyed stare. "I don't care who you are or what you're running from! I'm not sleeping on the streets of Milan tonight just because some rich man thinks he can buy everything!"
"Ma'am, I'm buying time. I don't want to waste time arguing with you," Mateo said casually. "Besides, you don't even look capable of paying for this executive suite."
"Try me if you dare!" Sienna challenged, her chest heaving as she held back her anger.
The clerk looked increasingly panicked as the situation in his lobby began to heat up. Outside, reporters' camera flashes grew more frantic, piercing through the hotel's front windows. Several guards in black suits were beginning to gather near the main entrance, searching for someone.
"Forgive me, sir, ma'am," the clerk said hesitantly. "But if the two of you can't decide who gets this room within one minute, I'll have no choice but to give it to another guest waiting on the priority list."
"We'll both take the room!" Sienna suddenly declared firmly.