My Dark Romeo

Twenty-one-year-old Dallas attends the debutante ball with her friends, Emilie and Jenna. While her friends wait for the handsome bachelors Oliver von Bismarck and Romeo Costa to arrive, Dallas samples the food. She’s surprised when the bachelors appear, and they’re as attractive as everyone said. She stares, unconcerned about what they think. She runs into her sister, Frankie Townsend, who also exclaims about Romeo’s good looks and his Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position at Costa Industries, an arms dealing company.

Dallas breaks away and returns to the food table, overhearing everyone talk about the bachelors. They’re unlike the young men in Dallas’s conservative Georgia hometown, Chapel Falls. Romeo appears beside Dallas and introduces himself. Dallas tries making jokes, but Romeo doesn’t laugh. She breaks away to dance with several men throughout the rest of the evening. She’s tipsy on champagne and enjoying herself. However, the dances don’t mean anything to her because her father, Shepherd Townsend, has already arranged her engagement to the wealthy bachelor, Madison Licht of Licht Holdings. Then Romeo swoops into dance with Dallas. They chat about themselves before Romeo suggests they drink champagne and kiss in the garden. Dallas accepts the offer, eager for some excitement.

Outside, Romeo insists they find somewhere else to kiss so the staff doesn’t see them. They change locations. Before kissing, Romeo compliments Dallas’s looks but criticizes her personality. Dallas admits she’s a virgin, which doesn’t faze Romeo. They kiss and touch until Romeo pushes her through a curtain and back into the ballroom where everyone sees what they’re doing. Romeo confronts Shepherd, insisting that he’s ruined Dallas’s reputation and will marry her to help their family save face. Shepherd agrees to the arrangement, upsetting Dallas.

Romeo texts with his friends, Oliver and Zach Sun, about what happened at the ball.

Romeo wakes up hungover at the hotel where he’s staying with Oliver and Zach. Remembering what happened with Dallas, he wonders if he made the right choice. His father, Romeo Costa, Sr. (Senior), has been urging him to find a wife. He’s completed the task despite how disinterested he is in romance and relationships. Oliver and Zach joke about Dallas’s good looks. Romeo assures them she has a terrible personality.

Romeo goes out and buys a giant engagement ring for Dallas, hoping to upset Madison. Madison is his rival. At the office, he meets with Senior and Bruce Edwards, Costa Industries’ Chief Operating Officer (COO). Romeo feels he deserves Bruce’s position. However, Senior refuses to make him COO without a bride and potential heir. The three discuss business. Romeo announces that he has found a wife. Senior won’t promote him until they’re officially married. Afterward, Romeo wonders if he’s doing the right thing or if he should return to his life in Potomac and let Dallas return to hers in Chapel Falls.

Romeo arrives at Dallas’s mansion in Chapel Falls. He finds her asleep in bed and demands she get up and pack because they’re going to Potomac. Dallas protests, but Romeo insists that she get ready to leave in the next two hours.

While waiting, Romeo studies Dallas’s extensive book collection. He recognizes the Henry Plotkin series. Frankie appears and begs Romeo to marry her instead of Dallas. Romeo pushes her away, knocking her to the floor. Then he finds Dallas and demands they leave immediately. Dallas ends up in Romeo’s car with just a suitcase of her favorite books and no clothes.

En route to the airport, Dallas stews over her situation, irritated with Romeo’s gum-chewing and pushiness. She silently vows to meet up with Madison in Potomac and use him to “get back at [Romeo]” (45).

On Romeo’s private plane, Dallas meets Oliver and Zach. Romeo tells Dallas to be quiet and read. Mid-flight, she gets up and flirts with the co-pilot, angering Romeo. He holds her in his lap afterward so she can’t get up again. Then, he confronts her about the smutty novel she’s reading. To tease him, Dallas wiggles her body on Romeo’s lap. His friends are amused, but Romeo isn’t.

When they land, Romeo fires the co-pilot for flirting with Dallas. Oliver and Zach tease Romeo for being possessive of Dallas.

Romeo’s chauffeur, Jared, drives Dallas and Romeo home. Although upset, Dallas refuses to let her feelings show. She wishes she could return home but knows she must go through with this arrangement for her family. As they approach their destination, Romeo tells Dallas he’ll grant her a wish if she promises to behave. Dallas’s one wish is for Romeo to die.

Romeo tells Dallas she can find Hettie in the kitchen but warns her about dirtying the space with her eating habits. Dallas scoffs, insisting he doesn’t hold any power over her. He leaves her to go to work.

Dallas lies in bed, missing her home and family. She falls asleep and wakes up to the groundskeeper, Vernon, at her bedside. He tells her to find Hettie if she wants dinner. He also gives her a Venus et Fleur, a rose that can live all year. She puts it in some water in the bathroom, hoping she can keep it alive.

Dallas wanders around the house exploring but feels trapped. Finally, she finds Hettie in the kitchen. She’s unimpressed by the bland dinner Hettie made. Hettie explains that she’s a skilled chef, but Romeo is picky about what he eats. She excitedly agrees to make Dallas an elaborate dinner. They talk and eat together.

Dallas spends hours alone, wondering where Romeo is. Meanwhile, she continues eating, staining Romeo’s nice furniture. Bored, she breaks into Romeo’s office and sifts through his paperwork. She learns about his role at Costa Industries, his financial adeptness, and his strained relationship with Senior and the Lichts. Afterward, she finds Hettie, who reveals Romeo is probably staying at his penthouse in Washington, DC. Annoyed, Dallas decides to make a scene the next time she sees Romeo so he remembers she’s there.