The illuminated Private Sky Box was at the corner of the rooftop. They had direct views on their exclusive seats overlooking the biggest and grandest celebration. With a dedicated butler, bottle service and premium top-shelf alcoholic beverage, a widespread of hors d'oeuvres by a Michelin-Starred Chef, Angela was able to justify the few thousand dollars per person spent just for this experience. It was still crazy expensive, but they paid for the experience.

The party on the rooftop was just as exciting as the concert happening on the street below. There had got to be a few hundreds of people on the rooftop.

The night was supposedly cold because it was winter, but space heaters, velour throws, and hand warmers were available to keep them warm as they waited for the midnight countdown with everyone.

Throughout the night, Angela's mind would go back to when Gael decided to make their relationship official. He hadn't asked her, he hadn't proposed—he took control and challenged her if she would take a step back after he claimed they were official. That one step forward was all it took for her to lower her barricades and let him call the shots. Honestly, she found that hot. He was demanding and bold and she loved it. She liked his dominance just as much as she liked how sweet he could be to her.

He'd introduced her to people he knew while keeping her close to his side at all times. It was cute how he had his hand on her the whole time to show she was his. The men were respectful to Angela—although their glances at her physique were not so subtle. And she could see through the double-faced women who didn't have dates that night and were hoping to snag Gael for the evening. The disappointment on their faces was apparent despite the plastic smiles they gave her way.

Angela also met some of Gael's friends from when he studied at NYU and a few others who went to Harvard University. Apparently, Gael took a semester in Harvard before he dropped out a few years ago.

When she got the chance, she whispered to him, "You didn't tell me you went to Harvard."

"It was just a semester. It's not a big deal," he answered and then took a sip of champagne.

She thought about it for a second, debated whether she should pry, and then decided out of curiosity. "And…why was it only a semester? What happened that made you drop out?"

Gael looked at her, moved closer, and kept his voice down. "Grandfather died. My father took over the position a few years early than expected. I had to step up in place of my father's."

Realization dawned on Angela as to how that part of Gael's life had much control over him. Things like these would bring her back to the reality that Gael and his family weren't ordinary people—that their worlds were different. She didn't know how to respond to that revelation. So she tried to steer the conversation in another direction.

"Do you have plans on retaking graduate studies?"

A smile formed on his lips. "Actually, I do. I'll have to check, but I think I can take most of the program online. I don't think it will be anytime soon, what with all the shit's going on at the moment. But perhaps in the future."

Angela smiled back at him. "I'm sure you'll do great at it."

Gael's hand went around her waist, and he leaned in, ready to kiss her when a voice called him from the side. He controlled the annoyance on his expression and settled with a neutral one before he turned to the man in a tailored gray tux and slick back hair.

"De Luca, so good to see you, man. Who's your date?"

"Romer. Gimme a second." Gael turned back to Angela and whispered to her, "This guy's a prick, but I actually need something from him. Do you mind waiting at the side? I won't take long."

"Take your time. I'll be fine. I need a few bites anyway. I'll just be over there." She pointed at the food table at the corner of the box.

"Just stay where I can see you." He kissed her temple before turning to Romer and guiding him out of the box towards a less crowded area on the rooftop.

"You're not even gonna introduce me to your chick? So selfish," Romer grumbled.

"Next time. Come on. We have some business to discuss."

While Gael talked to a couple of men on the opposite side of the rooftop, Angela indulged in some hors d'oeuvres and helped herself to a second glass of champagne. Giovanni decided to join her and keep her company. Though he didn't say it, she had a feeling that he was doing his nephew a favor by repelling suitors away from her.

"Where's your date?" she asked as she offered her plate of small dishes to him.

Giovanni picked one and tossed it into his mouth. He chewed for a few seconds and chased it with wine. "Not sure. She met her ex a few minutes ago and then excused herself soon after. I'm guessing they're in somewhere private and having a ball drop of their own. Her dropping on her knees in front of his balls."

Angela nearly choked on her food when she snorted and laughed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't laugh. I'm sorry." There was amusement in his eyes, but his face was slightly serious, and she couldn't stop laughing.

"Forget it. She's not so bright anyway."

She knitted her brows in confusion and waited for him to explain.

The corner of Giovanni's lips quirked upward, and he continued, "I'm not kidding. She thinks the PG in movie rating means 'Pretty Good'."

Another laugh erupted from Angela while trying to find an excuse for the woman. "Maybe she really just doesn't know it. Not all people are interested in movies."

He scoffed. "That's not all. In the car, on the way here… She told me she's excited because her sister is pregnant and that she can't wait to see if she's going to be an aunt or an uncle."

She stared at him for a few beats, confusion dancing on her face while she tried to process how ridiculous that sounded. It made her laugh again, and Giovanni shook his head as he guffawed with her. "Oh, god. I pity her."

"Gio!" a man called him from the other side of the box.

He nodded at the man before turning to Angela. "You okay here for a bit? I have to talk to this guy."

"Of course. Go."

Before leaving, Giovanni kissed Angela's cheek. "I'm happy you're here with him, Angela. Midnight's around the corner. Enjoy your first ball drop."

That was sweet. Warmth spread in her chest, feeling welcomed by Gael's family. Over the times that she got to know Giovanni, she grew comfortable around him like he was a brother. He was protective and annoying at the same time.

Then he spoke over his shoulder. "Or you know...the other ball dropping." He winked and laughed as he walked away.

"Aaand...there goes the sweetness," she muttered, glancing at Gael from a distance. She bit her bottom lip, thinking that she actually didn't mind dropping on her knees for Gael.

A few minutes later, a guy she hadn't met before came up to her. She figured he must've arrived late in the box. "Hey, beautiful. You look lonely here. Mind if I join you?" He tilted his glass of scotch towards her.

Angela glanced at the stranger before looking over to where Gael was. She caught Gael's eyes and answered nonchalantly, "I do, actually. So does my boyfriend."

The guy scoffed. "Boyfriend? What kind of asshole leaves you by yourself looking like that?" He gave her a once-over; his eyes were sticky.

A smile grew on her lips when Gael said goodbye to the men and strode back towards her. "The kind who's already heading back here."

The guy followed her line of sight and his eyes nearly bulged out, seeing Gael's scowl. "Shit. You're with De Luca?" The color on his face drained. "If he asks, tell him I was just asking for the bathroom." He left the box in a hurry, passing by Gael.

Angela laughed even though she didn't understand why the man was afraid of Gael.

"What the hell was that?" Gael questioned, nodding towards the man who scurried away.

"He was hitting on me before he saw you and realized I'm with you. He told me to lie and tell you that he was just looking for the bathroom."

He smirked. "Guy's a dick. But he's smart enough to walk away."

She smiled brightly.

"What?"

Angela realized that she liked how other people were afraid of him. Was that strange? Was she weird? "Nothing."

Gael then brought her towards the edge of the rooftop. "Come." He stood behind her, caging her with his forearms on the railing.

"So many people..." she said.

"Mm." He nuzzled in her hair and she leaned against him. His voice was low and rough as he whispered, "There's thousands of people around us. But my eyes always searched for you and no one else."