Chapter 27: Not qualified for

Soraya zipped up her warm puffer jacket and gazed at the serene landscape blanketed in fresh snow.

Her hands were tucked inside a pair of gloves, and she had covered her ears to protect them from the biting cold.

Despite the chilly weather, excitement bubbled inside her as she looked around at the snow-covered grounds.

"We’re going to play with snowballs, right?" she asked, turning toward Santino with an eager smile.

"Are we children?" Santino chuckled, adjusting his winter gear. "We’re going ice-skating."

Soraya’s excitement faltered for a moment as she stared at him. "I don’t know how to skate. Besides, playing with snowballs is much more fun," she insisted, refusing to give up on her idea.

Santino was busy adjusting his goggles when Soraya spotted her chance. She quickly crouched down, scooped up a handful of snow, and packed it into a ball. Before he could notice what she was doing, she straightened and threw it straight at him.

The snowball struck his chest, landing squarely on his jacket.

Soraya burst into laughter, delighted by her successful attack.

"I’m going to win!"

She stepped back, looking at him with a triumphant grin before gathering more snow and attack him once again.

Santino wasn’t about to let her get away with attacking him, so he began throwing snowballs at her as well.

Soraya squealed and darted to the left, narrowly dodging his attacks as she ran across the snow-covered ground.

Spotting a dry tree nearby, she quickly ducked behind it and began gathering snow, shaping it into several balls to launch another attack.

"Ahh!" Santino exclaimed when one of the snowballs struck him squarely in the face, knocking his goggles off. They fell into the snow before he could catch them. He had barely recovered from the unexpected hit when another snowball struck the top of his head.

Soraya burst into laughter at his dismayed expression, thoroughly enjoying the rare opportunity to catch the intimidating mafia king off guard. "The Mafia King is going to be defeated today!" she announced, continuing to pelt him with snowballs whenever she spotted an opening.

Santino tried to dodge the incoming attacks, but Soraya had already prepared several more and showed no intention of surrendering.

His usual composure was nowhere to be seen as he hurried across the snow, shielding his face from her relentless assault.

Grinning as he dodged another snowball, Santino charged toward her hiding place, determined to turn the tables.

"Now, no one can stop me from defeating you!" he declared, his eyes fixed on Soraya as he closed the distance between them.

Soraya tried to retreat before Santino could catch her, but he was faster. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back against him, leaving her back pressed firmly to his chest.

"Ahh! Let me go!" she protested, struggling to free herself from his hold.

However, Santino had no intention of letting her escape so easily. Frustrated by his stubbornness, Soraya lifted her foot and kicked him in the shin.

He groaned, but his grip loosened only slightly. As they struggled to regain their balance on the slippery snow, they both tumbled, landing in a soft pile of snow.

Soraya found herself leaning over him, her face hovering just above his.

For a moment, she forgot about their game as she stared into his eyes. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold and the excitement of their playful fight, and a few strands of hair had escaped from beneath her winter hat.

"Your cheeks have turned red," Santino whispered, his gaze lingering on her face. Before she could respond, he leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.

"Do you accept your defeat, Mr. Selvaggio?" Soraya demanded, narrowing her eyes at him in a playful glare.

Santino smiled up at her, entirely unbothered by his position in the snow. "Yes, Mrs. Selvaggio," he replied, his voice filled with amusement.

Soraya moved away from Santino and settled comfortably on the snow beside him.

A smile spread across her face as she looked up at the pale sky, still feeling the excitement of their playful battle.

"That was fun!" she exclaimed before turning her head to meet his gaze. "Now, you have to fulfill my wish."

"What do you want?" Santino asked, watching her with interest.

In truth, he had deliberately allowed her to win. He could easily have defeated her, but seeing her laugh so freely had been worth far more to him than winning their little competition. Such simple moments were precious to him, especially when he could make Soraya happy without the burdens of his position getting in the way.

"Let me work once we return to Italy," Soraya said.

"Of course. You can work at my company. What position would you like?" Santino asked immediately, already considering the possibilities.

"I don’t want to work with you," Soraya replied, sitting up to face him properly.

Santino sat up as well, his brows drawing together in mild displeasure. "Why not? I’ll make you a director."

Soraya shook her head at his suggestion. "I want to do something fun, not take on a position I’m not qualified for. I don’t have enough experience to be a director, and I don’t want to join my parents’ company either." She brushed the snow from her gloves before continuing. "They told me I’m the heiress of the Dalias family, but that doesn’t mean I have to take over their business. I want to find something of my own that I enjoy doing."

Santino studied her for a moment, taking in the determination in her expression.

She wasn’t interested in using her family’s wealth or his influence to secure a position she hadn’t earned.

She wanted the freedom to make her own choices and build a life on her own terms.

"You promised you’d fulfill my wish, Santino," Soraya reminded him, pointing a gloved finger at him. "So you can’t go back on your word now."

"Alright. You’re free to work wherever you want. I won’t stop you," Santino declared.