The morning had started off like any other and Less really did try to persuade himself into believing that it was a normal morning- when in the obvious and really quite unfortunate reality, it wasn't normal. Alessi’s alarm went off at 5:45 AM like it does every morning, one of the manor staff members had set out his clothes for the day so they were hanging up on the door of his room's walk-in closet. Less swung his legs off of the side of his large bed, he walked lazily over to the door, unhooking the clothes from the hanger and draping them over his arm before he bent to pick up the nicely shined black dress shoes that were at the floor of the closet. Alessi turned, running a hand through his hair, and paused, taking a deep breath before walking over to the bathroom of the large room.

He walked in and the motion sensors turned on slowly brightening the lights around the lavish bathroom. The addition was placed specifically in his bathroom, as Less had very weak eyes when it came to sudden light changes. The floor of the bathroom was marbled with the walls being slightly off-white in color. There was a long rectangular-shaped vanity mirror with small lights on the perimeters over his large white sink which was to the left when you first walked in. The shower was quite large, with glass on the outside and two different showerheads with different water modes. Alessi started changing into the more casual yet fancy two-piece outfit that had been placed out for him- a slim black turtleneck and matching black khaki pants. He also slid into his shoes before he started on his skincare. It was quite in-depth really, a 12-step skincare routine, he cared a lot about his skin so it had to be and it was fairly quick, so another plus. He did his hair next though there wasn't really ever anything to do with it except comb through it with his fingers. Well, he was finished getting ready-

There was a crash from down the hall. Less’s brows shot up and he practically sprinted to his bedroom door when a familiar but panicked voice called from outside and hurriedly explained about his “guest”. Of course, she is panicked- who wouldn't be? Alessi opened the door to find an anxious-looking Tabitha looking up at him, he met her gaze before his brows furrowed in concern.

She took a moment and seemed to hesitate before shaking her head slowly.

“No, sir. I suppose I’m just a bit frazzled thats all-”

Another crash- and Alessi was already halfway down the hall. He could hear the struggling before he saw it.

Alessi paused at the “guests” suite, his lips pursing as he attempted to find something reasonable to say. Straightening his collar, Less reached for the door handle, pushing in and opening the door to the most ridiculous scene he’d witnessed in a while.

“First, you scare the absolute shit out of my lovely staff member and now your trying to break my very expensive windows. Which, by the way, won’t work.”

Alessi’s gaze followed Natalia’s movements, his eyes narrowing but a small smirk spreading across his lips. He made no move to approach her and remained in front of the door, quietly turning the locks key before pulling his arms to fold over his chest.

Natalia’s body trembled as she saw there was no escape. She stared around the room, trying to find an exit but there was nothing. Soon she heard the door open to her room once again, that familiar voice from the night before sounding. This time instead of charm it only brought fear. Her wide, golden orbs looked to him, tears staining her flustered skin. His smile brought a sense of disgust to her stomach, tossing and turning.

“Tu sei un mostro” (You Monster) she spat, her voice trembling. Whenever she was scared or frustrated she switched to her native tongue, something that she never could control. It was always as if she had forgotten English in those times.

Natalia could not snap from the flight or fight her body had locked itself in. For all she knew this was the man that kidnapped her, had someone drugged her, brought her here. They had stripped her clothes and saw her vulnerable body while she was asleep, who knows what else they had done. Her adrenaline was through the roof, she couldn’t even realize the slice in her hand. As her breath just momentarily slowed, the pulsing pain and sound of dripping blood caught her attention just for a faint second. She glanced down to her palm, watching as the blood dripped off her skin and onto the broken lamp.

Her eyes shot back up to his form as he reached and locked the door, slipping the key away before folding his arms across his chest. Instinctively she threw the lamp at him, having not the best aim it made contact with the wall beside him, the lamp finally breaking and crumbling to the floor. She had no more weapons, she was defenseless. There was nowhere to run or hide. She had no clue what this man was to do to her.

“What the hell do you want from me?” she asked, her jaw tight, her accent thick. She pressed her free hand against her palm, stopping the blood from flowing onto the floor.

The young woman's surprising comments startled the man for a brief moment, making him stop. However, a swift memory of the girl's past flooded his mind, and he nodded to himself as if confirming something deep within. The term "monster" resonated in his thoughts, producing a strange mix of feelings that eventually caused a soft laugh to escape him. He shook his head gently in amusement as his gaze, now shaded with a mysterious darkness, shifted downward before finally rising, a shadowy sparkle flickering in his eyes.

“Correct… But you say that like it's a bad thing.”

Alessi shrugged, his eyes studying her intently- his head cocked to the right for a moment. His eyes widened briefly and swiftly moved to the side as the lamp was thrown at him. Crashing against the wall to his left and shattering, the pieces falling to the wooden flooring. His brows furrowed for a moment and he let out a sign, that was a nice lamp to…

“I’m sorry- but had that meant to hit me? If so, you have an atrocious aim, love.”

His tongue tsked against the roof of his mouth.

Another remark was about to leave Alessi’s mouth when he saw the blood. It was only a few drops at first but as Natalia looked down to peer at her palm, he caught a glimpse of the fairly deep cut that ran across the inside of her hand. He scowled at the injury and the growing puddle of blood on the floor before turning and opening the door to the suite's bathroom. It was similar to his, with a bit of a different color scheme. Alessi opened one of the sink's wooden drawers, digging through the neatly sorted medical supplies inside, and found gauze and a sort of spray disinfectant. He exited the bathroom, his head looking up from reading the bottle of ingredients.

“It’s nothing against you- well maybe just a bit. It's your family. More specifically your father. And from what you shared with me last night, it doesn't sound like you have the best relationship with him. So chill the fuck out.”

Alessi took a step closer, lowering his body to match her height, and swiftly reached out for her wrist to gently secure it before she could voice any objections. Turned her hand over, his gaze fixed on the sight of the modest but notably piercing cut that marked her skin.

“I would also rather not have your blood dripping onto the new white carpet, so you're going to let me wrap this up and you're going to be calm about it because I have no intention of hurting you.”

Natalia watched as his eyes grew darker, as if her comment was a joke rather than an insult. “Fuck you” was all she said in reply, her brows furrowed tightly. Fear was slowly being replaced with anger, for fear had not helped her situation at all. She was waiting for the moment the man before her made a move, but would that move be to hurt her?

Natalia watched as he made his way to the bathroom after seeing the blood drip from her hand, and for the moment he had disappeared she quickly looked around. “Fuck” she said internally. There was nothing. Nothing she could use as a weapon. She was trying to think quickly, she needed something hard enough to hit him with, snatch the key and get out of here. But she reminded herself, there had to be security or something, this place looked like a mansion from the momentary view she had taken.

Soon she heard his footsteps returning into the room, her body stiffening as she took a small step back. As he neared, his towering form only giving more intimidation, he began to speak of her father. She was here because of her father? What the fuck was happening.

“You must have kidnapped the wrong girl, my father works with banks? What? He didn’t open an account for you?” She asked in a snippy tone, only to quiet down as his form lingered closer. “Yes my father and I have our ups and downs but why the hell would that matter?” She added, stepping back once more.

Before she could speak or move again, he stood before her and quickly snatched her wrist. His large hand easily clasped around her delicate skin, his grip tight and unwavering. Her body instinctively tried to pull back but there was no budge. He spoke again and his final words only caused a scoff to escape her lips.

“No intention of hurting me?” She asked, her voice raising as she gave a half chuckle. “You drugged me! Fucking kidnapped me and brought me here! You are insane!” She said, her eyes widening a bit as she looked at him. She felt as if she was losing her mind. How and why was this happening? Being kidnapped but taken to a lavish home and cared for? What type of mind trick was this?

Natalia winced as he sprayed the disinfectant on the wound, the woman hissing as it burned. Alessi was quiet as he carefully wrapped her hand, his eyes focused. “Why the hell are you doing this?” She questioned, watching as he tied the bandage closed securely around her palm. “You need to let me go” she added.

To be completely truthful on Alessi’s part, he wasn't listening to a single thing the young woman was ranting on about. Her talk about his kidnapping, drugging her, etcetera- yeah, maybe it hadn't been the best outing for something like this that has been done before. His main focus had been finishing the bondage around Natalie's hand, his eyes focused as to make sure he did it correctly.

The gauze would need to be changed in a couple hours but the infectant spray should help prevent any further problems. Alessi finished his work, tying the extra end piece with a subtle pull of both sides before he moved back, his eyes focusing on her face. He couldn't help the smile that appeared almost mockingly, she didn't get to tell him what to do. Who did she think she was? Someone important he supposed…

Alessi paused, leaning back slightly until his back was against the wall behind him. His hand ran over his face in slight agitation,

“Your father doesn't work with banks, princess. My own father and he go back a good while. I don't know exactly what happened but they were close and then suddenly, out of nowhere, they hated each other. It was back and forth of them taking things dear to each other and it hasn't stopped.”

Less paused a moment to recollect his breath and continue,

“Our families despise each other. Im not sure how much he's told you, but my family doesn't like falling behind on anything. And we have for a couple of years now. But we've finally found something to get back at him. You.”

Alessi shrugged lightly,

“You're simply being held ransom. For now at least, for the sake of both of our sanities, you’d better hope Daddy sends over everything soon. You'll be free to wander the manor if you so wish, as well as the property…within reason.”

His hand ran through his hair, brushing it out of his face as he stood taller, his shoulders back and posture straight as he looked down upon her.

“The maids will be here whenever you need them and I'll be the one to bring you your food.”

Alessi lifted his gaze to the room and scratched the back of his neck.

Natalia went silent as he began to explain their families feud and how she was being held for ransom. Her skin dropped from its tan tone to one of pale white as she realized the reason she was here, her skin contrasting against the black silk nightgown that fell upon her form. So much ran through her mind in the moment, her stomach twisting and turning as she thought of the length of time she would have to be here. What if her father didn’t comply? What would happen to her? He was a hard headed man who didn’t like to lose, so would he choose his business or his daughter?

Natalia said nothing more during their interaction, she couldn’t even begin to process everything. Once Alessi had left and she heard that dreadful *click* of the lock, tears flowed down her stained cheeks. She slid to the ground, resting her arms on her knees. What if she never left? What if she was to be trapped here forever? Natalia cried until it hurt and there were no tears left to shed. Her body was still exhausted from the events of the early morning, her head pounding with great force.

After a few hours Natalia had managed to drag herself up off the floor and change into the plain clothing the maids had left, one of them returning to mend her wound after some time. She was hesitant, but did apologize to Tabitha for scaring her. She knew the young woman had no say in any of this and was just doing her job.

As the day went on, Natalia silently paced the room, her eyes taking in each detail of the room or outside the windows. When her feet began to ache, she laid down, her back to the door. She was silent when Alessi returned with her meal, ignoring them as he placed them in the room for her. That went on for days. Food would be left but she did not eat. Tabitha became concerned and warned Alessi but that was all she could do. Natalia missed her home, her bed, her room, her friends. She hated this quiet hell hole, each day just stuck in a silent room, everything so perfect it felt like a set. Slowly the aroma of food was starting to get to her deprived body, but she had no energy to eat. Plus, what if it was poisoned? Finally almost a week had passed. Natalia was tired of the bed, she had taken a blanket and a pillow and positioned it in the small alcove that held a large window. She sat up on top the ledge, spinning her ring as she stared out over the gardens below. It was her new favorite thing to do to pass time. She loved gardens and flowers, so she didn't mind sitting for hours watching the gardeners tend to the plants.

It had been exactly seven days since Natalia arrived at the grand manor, and this week had quickly turned into a series of unending meetings for Alessi. These many meetings had taken up almost every waking moment of the young man's day, with the pressures on his time proving to be much heavier than he had expected. As a result, Alessi had unintentionally overlooked his father's suggestion to check in on Natalia more often, and with each day that passed, he felt an increasing sense of unease about not being able to care for the young woman as thoroughly as he should have. However, with the weekend finally bringing a brief end to his work commitments, Alessi found himself facing an unexpected lull in his usually busy schedule. Unsure if he should feel relieved or anxious about this newfound time away from meetings, Alessi wandered through the now surprisingly quiet hallways of the manor, often passing by the secluded guest suite where Natalia stayed. The heavy silence surrounding her room only intensified his feeling of unease, amplifying the worries that had been reflected by Tabitha's serious warnings the day before. After assuring Tabitha that he would deal with the situation, Alessi now struggled with a deep sense of responsibility towards Natalia, fully aware of the unsettling quiet that seemed to envelop her presence within the manor's walls.

It was around 9:30 AM when Alessi went down the spiral staircase to the first floor for breakfast. Though the delicious-smelling platter of food that he brought back up from the kitchen was not meant for him. Carefully walking up the stairs with the large platter of food that Alessi did note might not end up being eaten… how unfortunate. Somebody shoved past him, causing the young man to stumble but he quickly gathered himself and made sure the food didn't fall before his head snapped around to look at who the hell just walked into him. Aria, Less’s younger sister stood with a sort of surprised expression on her face.

“When did you get back? I haven't seen you since Monday-”

Aria’s brows furrowed in confusion and Less sneered, rolling his eyes and turning back around to continue his way up the stairs.

“I had work. I've been in meetings all week and I don't feel like talking- so piss off.”

Alessi murmured sharply, earning a scoff from the teenager who then turned and walked down the stairs. Nobody knew about the young woman staying in the second-floor guest room except himself, his father, and the maids. Maybe his mother… if Alessi’s father had informed her that is.

His shoes padded softly against the carpeted hallway of the second floor, turning to stop in front of the familiar door. Less balanced the platter of food in one hand as he found the room key in his back pocket. Alessi unlocked the door and walked in. His eyes landed quickly on the girl who was seated on the window alcove, her eyes trained on the garden below.

“Oh, good. You're out of bed.”

Alessi placed the platter of food that held multiple fresh pastries, two bowls of fruit, and a nice sunny-side-up egg with bacon on the side, on the small circle table in the middle of the room. He moved the glass of milk to the side of the table, finishing up the nice setup Alessi’s attention turned back to Natalie. His expression straight as he met her gaze,

“You need to eat. I’ve been informed that you haven't been eating the food provided, so- I will be staying right here until you finish everything.”

His arms folded over his chest, his eyes narrowing a bit.

Natalia's mind was currently drawn away from all that surrounded her, her golden orbs taking in the blooming colors. Alessi had mentioned she could roam the home and some of the property, but she was too hesitant, too scared that once she left the somewhat safety of her room something may happen. She had no clue who was roaming the halls or what their intentions were. She had slowly come to terms that maybe she would be stuck here forever. Clearly her father had done nothing as it had been a week with no word. He had been traveling for work but surely he would have found out…right? Did he even care? They had parted ways with a fight the last time they spoke.

Natalia was still staring at the gardens when Alessi had come in, she was quiet and still. Honestly she hadn’t even noticed his arrival at first until he spoke. Her gaze turned to his, that face of pure joy and light had been replaced with one of exhaustion. Her bright eyes were just a bit dull, her warm hue toned down. She watched him set the food down, the aroma swiftly moving through the room.

“Thank you” she said, “But I am truly not hungry” she added before looking back out the window, her arms gently resting over her knees. It was true, she had no hunger or thirst, maybe her body had been on lockdown as a precaution of her strangers.

She turned her gaze once more and watched as Alessi stood, his arms crossing his broad chest, his harsh eyes watching her. She knew what he would say, just as he did before. She had to eat, she had no choice, blah blah. Natalia let out a soft sigh before she stood, moving to the table that held her meal. She was slowly starting to give in, her mind settling to the fact she had nothing else she could do. She softly picked up one of the bowls of fruit, the white porcelain containing grapes, blueberries and some cut up banana slices. She popped a grape into her mouth as she turned and wandered back towards the windows once again. It was the closest thing to freedom that she had. The fruit was delicious and she slowly realized how much her body had craved the nutrition but her expression did not waver.

“I will eat as much as I can” she said truthfully. She never had been a heavy eater, and now after days of nothing she did not want to make herself sick. Her eyes kept to the grounds below, thinking to herself. She was quiet for some time, enjoying the fresh fruit to herself. After a few minutes she spoke again. "What happens if my father does nothing?" She asked, her voice soft, steady. "Will you let me go? Kill me? Sell me off?" She added, her voice still steady, her eyes never leaving the grounds below.

Alessi’s gaze followed Natalia’s movements, watching intently as she carefully picked up the small bowl of fruit, her fingers delicately brushing against the smooth surfaces of the grapes and blueberries. His eyes absentmindedly drifted to her lips, which glistened softly in the morning light, as she popped a grape in her mouth, seemingly savoring the sweetness of the fruit. A ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his own mouth, good. He thought to himself. As she turned away, her hair cascading down her shoulders, he couldn't help but admire how calm she seemed. Compared to one of the last times he visited her- when she threw one of the manor lamps at him. She didn't hit him but still- Alessi leaned slightly onto one of the wooden poles on the end of her bed, his head cocked softly to the side at her words.

She would eat as much as she could…? What did she mean? Did the food not appear to her liking? I mean- he could relate to that, he was a picky eater- but if he hadn't eaten whole meals all week he would have gladly taken a nice enough-looking meal. Pushing his thoughts to the side, Less nodded twice- his eyes moving away from her and to the area she was looking below.

The gardens. The property of the Caballero’s had multiple gardens, but this particular one—placed right to the back of the manor—was by far the largest and most luxurious. Multiple expensive-looking fountains could be found throughout the garth, each one intricately designed with flowing water that sparkled in the sunlight like diamonds. As you stroll along the winding paths, you can't help but be captivated by the absolutely stunning plants that surrounded you; vibrant roses in every shade imaginable bloom alongside delicate lilies, their sweet fragrances mingling in the warm air. There was a small greenhouse in the middle of the garden, a glass structure that glistened like a jewel, where some of the rarest plants were lovingly cultivated. Inside, the air was warm and humid, filled with the earthy smell of rich soil and the vibrant colors of orchids and succulents that thrived under the careful watch of the gardener. But overall, the garden was filled with flowers, butterflies, and other innocent creatures, flitting from petal to petal, bringing the space to life with their gentle movements and soft whispers.

A stone bench sat invitingly beneath an ancient oak tree, offering a perfect spot to sit and take in the beauty of the surroundings. Alessi had found that he could easily lose track of time here, watching as the sunlight danced through the leaves, casting playful shadows on the ground. Occasionally, a hummingbird would zip by, its wings a blur, or a rabbit would peek out from behind the bushes, adding to the charming tableau.

In the early evenings, when the sun began to set, the garden transformed into a magical oasis, with twinkling fairy lights strung between branches and the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the pathways. It was the kind of place that invited you to linger, to breathe deeply, and to relish the serenity that enveloped you, making it a cherished retreat for anyone fortunate enough to wander into its embrace.

The young man's attention was brought back by Natalia’s soft voice, his eyes trailing back to her just in time for them to widen in surprise, her question coaxing this out of him. His brows furrowed and his tone turned suddenly turned serious as he shook his head, his deep gaze landing on hers.

“Why would I ever- no, I’m not going to kill or sell you if your father doesn't decide to send what he owes us. You think too lowly of me, princess.”

His expression relaxed slowly before he let out a quiet breath.

“I’m not exactly sure what we’d do with you exactly… but I’ll make sure you're not to be harmed if that's what you're wondering. Nobody will touch you and I’ll take care of them if they do.”

His tone was strangely quiet. Alessi cleared his throat and looked up, his chin gesturing to the window above the garden in which she was sitting.

“Finish what you can of your breakfast. Then we’re going out for a walk.”

Natalia listened to Alessi as he spoke, one would react with some sort of excited expression at the sound of not getting killed, but Natalia kept just her calm and quiet expression. She nodded softly and stood, setting the empty bowl on the tray before picking up the plate of eggs and bacon. She was quiet as she ate, finishing most of the food except for a pastry and some of the fruit.

A walk sounded nice, but also she did not want to leave the confines of her room, especially not with the man that caused this all. But there was something about him through that tough, stern exterior that seemed calm, caring. He had promised she would not be harmed no matter the outcome so maybe that was the small bit of hope that allowed her to agree to the walk. After she had finished what she could she slipped a pair of shoes on that Tabitha had brought her, as well as spun her hair up into a messy bun, holding it tight with a claw clasp she was given as well from her purse. She was given the items of her purse, of course with the exception of her phone.

Natalia followed Alessi as he unlocked the door, leading the way by her side, just a small step in front of her. As the two descended the stairs, Natalia took in all of the details. The masterful artworks that hung on the walls, the carefully placed decor, every single bit. It was all so lavish.

It wasn’t until they reached the front doors did her smile slowly appear back. The cool air her skin as the doors opened, the sun's warmth highlighting her defined cheeks and glistening off of her silky hair. It felt so amazing after being inside. Natalia continued to follow, her arms carefully crossed over her body as she stayed quiet, following his stride. The gentle breeze pushed the aroma of the lavish gardens around, the scent of fresh cut grass and roses mixing in the air.

Natalia was one for the outdoors, she loved nature and all that was within. So of course her body slowly released its tight hold and posture, her shoulders dropping a bit as they neared the gardens. “It’s so beautiful” she said quietly as the stone pathway turned to pebbles, her steps light as she took in everything. Bushes perfectly cut and shaped, flowers and vines intertwined in a perfect pattern. It was as if it was a dream, how could something be so perfectly crafted. Her lips turned up in the corners into a smile, her tight arms loosening as her golden orbs took in the details. She was quiet for a bit, observing before she spoke again. Slowly she started to name off flowers they passed, but not just the common name, in their scientific names as well. She would also begin to say small facts about them as well. Where they were from, any small fact someone normal may not know. Her mind began to relax as well, maybe this was not so bad after all.