By 6:00 AM the next morning, the grand foyer of the Destiano mansion was in a state of absolute, high-fashion emergency.
Dozens of elite designers, celebrity hair stylists, and personal tailors were rushing across the marble floors, dragging garment racks filled with the most expensive silks and premium wools. Luxury shoe boxes were stacked six feet high against the walls.
Diana Destiano stood near the grand staircase in her silk pajamas, sipping a morning espresso as her sharp brow furrowed in pure confusion. She tapped through her tablet, checking the family’s digital calendars. "What on earth is going on? I checked the Destiano Group schedule, the media itinerary, and the fashion house calendar. There are absolutely no red-carpet events or galas scheduled for today. Why are Madrid’s top designers invading our house at this hour?"
Dedrick Destiano strolled into the foyer, shirtless and yawning, casually spinning his football on his finger. "Man, I don't know, but they woke me up. I thought there was a fire, but it’s just people arguing over the difference between midnight black and obsidian navy."
Suddenly, Luke Destiano walked down the stairs, looking flawless with his blonde hair perfectly slicked back. He caught sight of the massive design team setting up a temporary fitting station, his icy blue eyes narrowing. "What is all this? Richard, what are you doing? I have a major scout meeting at the PTTS talent agency today. Why is my personal stylist currently trapped in our living room?"
From the center of the designer circle, Richard Destiano stepped out.
The panel framed him in a breathtaking, custom-tailored, light gray cashmere three-piece suit that screamed pure, elegant luxury. Every single line was immaculate. A celebrity stylist was frantically applying a final touch of hairspray to his dark blonde hair, while a designer adjusted his silk tie.
"Richard..." Diana stared at her oldest brother, completely baffled. "What is with the intense get-up? You look like you're about to sign a treaty to buy a small country."
"I just realized something very important this morning, Diana," Richard replied, checking his silver cufflinks, his expression perfectly cold, arrogant, and ruthless. "I am Spain’s No. 1 Most Eligible Bachelor. And I intend to keep it that way. Perfection requires constant upkeep."
Luke squinted, totally unconvinced by the corporate excuse. "Right... and you need an entire fleet of designers for a regular day at the office?"
"It is not a regular day," Richard smirked coldly, smoothing his jacket. "Destiano Enterprises is hosting a spontaneous, massive 'Free Pastry Employee Appreciation Event' this morning. Ten thousand boxes of high-class pastries. I am personally overseeing the vendor selection."
Just then, Emily Destiano walked into the salon, still half-asleep and rubbing her eyes, clutching her tablet. Suddenly, a loud PING chimed from her bank app. She looked down, her eyes widening to the size of saucers. "Oh my god! Richard! What is with the massive, multi-million-euro bonus you just wired into my student account?! Did you accidentally add too many zeros?!"
Richard turned his sharp head toward his little sister. The cold corporate mask instantly melted into a meltingly soft, deeply proud older brother smile. He walked over and patted her head affectionately. "Consider it your influencer funding, Emily. From this day forward, I promise I will never, ever forget to like, view, and share your content again for the rest of my life."
"Wait... really?" Emily blinked, completely clueless. "Because of my band vlog?"
"At first, I didn't know which bakery to pick for my ten thousand employees," Richard’s smug smirk returned as he grabbed his luxury leather briefcase. "But your social media story completely saved me. You have immaculate taste in local businesses, little sister."
Emily flushed heavily, her eyes sparkling with pride as she felt incredibly appreciated. "Aw, Richard! You're the best big brother ever! See? My content actually has a major corporate impact!"
Richard gave her a smooth, handsome nod, adjusting his lapels one last time before turning on his heel and marching out of the grand mansion like a king heading
Emily groans loudly, throwing her hands in the air
The scenery changes
The morning sun reflected brilliantly off the pristine, floor-to-ceiling glass windows of Le Chic Artisan bakery. Inside, the spectacular tiers of gold-leaf tarts and artisanal cakes looked like museum sculptures under the crystal chandeliers.
Suddenly, the quiet, high-end street was completely overtaken by a thunderous rumble.
A massive fleet of twenty high-end, matte-black corporate delivery trucks—each bearing the glowing golden crest of Destiano Enterprises—lined up along the curb. Leading the caravan was Richard's multi-million-euro, armored luxury limousine. The sheer scale of the arrival completely blocked traffic on the entire avenue.
Inside the bakery, Felix was casually setting a fresh tray of gold-leaf tarts into the glass display case. To keep his hair out of the ingredients, his silky black hair was meticulously packed up in a neat, stylish bun on top of his head, leaving a few loose strands framing his gorgeous face and completely exposing his pale, flawless neck. He looked incredibly cute and beautiful wearing a frilly, pastel-pink baker's apron over his soft sweater. He blinked his rosy pink eyes, looking out the front window in pure confusion.
"Miya, bestie... look outside," Felix pouted, pointing a slim, flour-dusted finger. "Why is a whole army of corporate trucks parking in front of our store? Did you accidentally order a million pounds of flour?"
Miya stepped out from the kitchen, her sharp eyes instantly narrowing at the Destiano logo on the trucks. Her assassin instincts flared. "What the hell...? No. That's a massive corporate entity. Get ready, Velvet. Something isn't right."
Outside on the asphalt, the limousine door flew open. A dozen burly, heavily armed Destiano security guards in sharp black suits leaped out, instantly forming a secure perimeter around the bakery entrance. The primary secretary and the head event planner sprinted over to the car door, holding digital clipboards and sweating profusely.
"Mr. Destiano! The perimeter is secure!" The secretary panicked. "We have the contracts ready for the ten thousand pastry boxes! Shall we send the corporate legal team inside first to negotiate the bulk price and inspect the kitchen facilities for safety?!"
Inside the luxury vehicle, Richard Destiano stared out the tinted window, his icy blue eyes locked onto the figure of Felix through the bakery glass. The moment Richard saw Felix with his hair packed up in that stunning bun, exposing his delicate, pale neck, and looking like a breathtakingly handsome doll in a frilly pink apron, his corporate mask completely shattered into dust.
A violent, scorching crimson blush rushed all the way up Richard’s neck, turning his entire face and the tips of his ears bright, burning red. His hands actually trembled slightly on his leather briefcase. The corporate staff expected their cold, ruthless CEO to give a commanding order. Instead, Richard turned his blushing face away, clearing his throat nervously.
"N-No! Absolutely not!" Richard’s voice turned incredibly soft, flustered, and completely panicked. "Cancel the legal team! Cancel the inspectors! Nobody moves a single inch!"
"Sir...?" The secretary blinked in utter bewilderment. "But the corporate protocol for bulk food vendors dictates—"
"I am the CEO, and I dictate the protocol! This is a highly... highly sensitive executive negotiation! I will go in alone. All of you... wait outside. If a single one of you steps foot inside that bakery, you are fired."
The secretary and the guards stared at him like he had completely lost his corporate mind.
"If they go in, they’ll scare my beautiful angel away..." Richard muttered frantically to himself as he opens the car door. "Stay calm, Richard. You are Spain’s number one bachelor. You can handle a simple pastry vendor..."
Richard straightened his silk tie, took a deep breath to hide his burning blush, and marched toward the bakery door entirely alone—leaving his massive corporate army standing on the sidewalk in absolute, confused silence.
The delicate brass bell above the door chimes softly.
Before the door even fully opened, Miya spotted Richard’s sharp reflection in the polished marble countertops. Her elite assassin insights kicked in instantly as she recognized the world-famous business tycoon from the intelligence briefings. She rapidly leaned over the display case, grabbing Felix by the strings of his frilly pink apron and pulling him close, whispering in a sharp, urgent hiss.
"Velvet! Look alive!" Miya hissed through her teeth. "That is Richard Destiano walking through the door. He controls half the economy in this country. Stand up straight, behave yourself, and hide your goddamn sass right now! One bad review or a single petty comment from a man that powerful means our entire cover operation gets shut down by tomorrow morning. Do you hear me? Act normal!"
"Ugh, fine, fine! I’ll play the perfect little baker boy," Felix whispered back in an annoyed, cute whine. "Stop pulling my apron, bestie!"
Felix quickly smoothed down his pastel sweater, plastered a completely fake, angelic smile onto his rosy lips, and turned toward the entrance just as Richard stepped inside.
The heavy glass door closed, instantly shutting out the noise of the twenty corporate trucks waiting on the sidewalk. Richard stood in the center of the beautiful bakery, clutching his luxury leather briefcase like a shield. He tried his absolute best to look like a commanding, ruthless CEO, forcing a cold, unapproachable expression onto his face. But the moment his icy blue eyes lock onto Felix—who was standing there with his silky black hair packed neatly into a bun, exposing his delicate pale neck, smiling like an innocent doll—Richard's corporate mask completely disintegrated.
A violent, scorching crimson blush rushed up Richard’s neck, turning his entire face bright, bright red. He looked like a flustered schoolboy who just got caught staring at his crush.
Felix blinked his big, swollen pink eyes. His fake angelic smile dropped instantly, replaced by a look of deadpan, comically blunt recognition. He totally forgot Miya’s strict warning about the shutdown. He pointed a flour-covered finger straight at Richard, blurting out loudly, "Oh! Hey! You're that hallway boyband guy from the palace gala! The one who turns red for absolutely no reason!"
Miya nearly choked on her own breath in the background, her soul practically leaving her body as she gripped the counter in pure horror.
Richard, meanwhile, felt like his heart just exploded. His blush deepened to an impossible level, his hands trembling so hard he almost dropped his multi-million-euro corporate briefcase right on the marble floor.
"B-Boyband...?!" Richard’s voice cracked, squeaking out in a completely soft, panicked, and flustered tone. "I... I am the Chief Executive Officer of Destiano Enterprises! I... I came to inspect your... your tarts!"
***
**THE END OF CHAPTER 6**
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