Alessi’s pace down the art-filled hallway was level and smooth, the polished marble underfoot reflecting the soft glow of the ornate chandeliers that hung gracefully above. He turned his head ever so often to check and see if Natalia was still keeping up with him, her footsteps echoing softly against the walls adorned with vibrant paintings and intricate sculptures. Once assured that she was indeed right behind him, Less turned to head down the spiral staircase to the first floor, each step echoing with a gentle rhythm that blended with the distant sounds of laughter and the bustling activity of the estate.

Since it was Saturday, the maids of the manor were assigned to deep clean the entire estate, a routine that had become almost ceremonial in its execution. However brutal that sounds, it really isn’t all that bad when you consider the sheer scale of the Caballero family’s legacy. They have hired 150+ maids throughout the years, and the current roster sits at around a hundred. Each of these dedicated women had her own story, her own reason for being there, and while it was still a good deal of work for each of them, it wasn’t excruciatingly so. The manor, with its high ceilings and expansive rooms, could feel overwhelming, but the maids had developed a rhythm, a dance of sorts, moving in and out of rooms, dusting, scrubbing, and polishing with a sense of pride.

The air was filled with the scent of lemon-scented cleaners mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting from the kitchen, where the cooks were preparing a sumptuous lunch for the family. Alessi's father, a man who believed in treating his employees well, had always encouraged a positive atmosphere. He often said that if the maids were happy, then the manor would feel like home, and so he let them continue on with their work without the shadow of complaint or criticism hanging over them.

As Alessi and Natalia descended the elegantly spiraled staircase, he couldn’t help but notice the chatter that bounced off the walls as the two passed a few of the maids, this was normal as the girls had all bonded in some sort of way.

The two made their way to an older-looking wooden door that was located at the side of the spiral staircase. His eyes brushed over her form before opening the door, gesturing for her to go first. The weather was nice today, in the mid-seventies as his phone had stated before they left the indoors, a light breeze rustling through the young man's dark hair as the garden's floral scent met his nose. He visibly relaxed as he walked further into the large garden, which seemed interesting for Natalia as well… interesting. Alessi stayed quiet as he watched her stride on the pathway through the garth, his brows raising ever so slightly as she started naming off what he presumed as the names of the plants the two were passing.

“How long have you been a fan of greenery? It seems like you know quite a bit about…” He subtly gestured to the area around them, where vibrant ferns unfurled like delicate lace and sun-dappled leaves shimmered in the gentle breeze, “…everything here.”

A hint of a smile picked up on the corners of his lips as he watched her, intrigued by her passion for the flora surrounding them. That was an innocent enough question, right?

Natalia continued to partially lead the way, her bright glow slowly returning as they started to move deeper through the winding paths. Everything here just felt so calm and she didn’t quite understand it. His family had kidnapped her for ransom, but here she was enjoying a luxurious garden, foods prepared with care, anything she needed at her request. Was this all some sort of joke to mess with her mind? She would find out later, for now she enjoyed the sun’s warm touch and the aromas that swirled around her, the small bit of freedom she had. The deeper they got within the garden, the more the shine in her eyes grew. Soon she heard him speak, asking her about her knowledge. She smiled, looking at him for a moment before going back to the plants. “My whole life.” She began, her steps slowing to a stop as they stood by a large arrangement of roses. Her fingers reached out, gently cupping one of the large buds, “My mother adored nature, flowers, trees, mountains, everything. My father had built her a custom garden, we would go on hikes, a lot of my childhood was spent outside.” She added before continuing her steps again.

“My mother grew her own produce for our dinners as well as grew all the flowers and plants for the bouquets she would put around the house. She taught me everything, all my recipes, everything scientific about plants, how to use them in medicines. It was almost as if she knew every single answer you could have about nature.” Natalia continued. The two walked side by side, their steps slow, the pebbles below crunching softly. They were slowly starting to approach the old oak tree that loomed over the flora, its large limbs providing just the right amount of shade. “I got really sick one day, I was confined to my bed for months. My mother surprised me by growing my favorite plants and bringing them inside so I could still see them. She taught me how plants have life just like humans. If you watch carefully you can see them wake and sleep, drink, slowly grow just like a child growing up.” She added. As Natalia would walk, small little honey bees and a few butterflies would begin to hover around, sometimes landing on her shoulder or on her fingers as she stretched her hand out. It was as if she was the embodiment of light, of peace. Even in these strange and hard times for her, her body radiated.

They finally had reached the old oak tree, Natalia stopping and taking a seat on the bench. Her eyes looked around slowly, her chest slowly rising and falling with ease. It was just so relaxing, as if this place seeped a calm feeling over anything that stood. Natalia was quiet for a moment as she thought, replaying moments in her mind. Soon she spoke, her conversation changing from their previous. “I'm sorry for how I reacted prior” She said softly, her eyes looking to Alessi’s. She knew she had the right to react, to be terrified, but she hadn't taken a moment to see she had not been in harm's way. Now she had realized it.

Alessi listened attentively as the brown-haired girl spoke, his eyes focused on the ground ahead of him as if he was hesitant to even glance over at her. He was taken aback by her ability to speak so freely about her personal life- his ears didn't exactly deserve to be taking in all of this information. He stayed quiet but noted to himself that Natalie was using her mother's title in a past tense… had she- oh right, he remembered now. The young man’s father had mentioned briefly multiple times in conversation about the Amati family that Enzo Amati’s spouse had been a part of a crash that had been lethal to not only his wife but another family member, someone he couldn't remember at the moment. Personally, Alessi hadn't ever really been able or comfortable with speaking in depth about key moments in his past- and his family never really had conversations about theirs, so he usually kept them down and quiet until he was alone.

The two got to a point in the garden where the giant oak tree could be seen a short distance away. Good, he felt as though his feet would fall off if he had to walk another step… was that a bit dramatic? Yes. Was he going to admit it or speak of it out loud? Certainly not. Alessi’s eyes left the sight of the tree and focused back on Natalie, who was a few feet in front of him, looking positively at peace amidst the vibrant hues of nature surrounding them. The gentle rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds created a serene backdrop, yet his attention was entirely captured by her. There seemed to be a soft glow around her as the sun hit her back perfectly, casting a warm halo that accentuated the delicate features of her face. The way a soft smile fell onto her lips as she recalled memories transformed her expression into one of pure bliss, the quiet and sweet aura around her brightening in a manner that seemed almost ethereal.

He found himself entranced, noticing that she looked a lot like the way she had the first time they had met at the nightclub a week ago. That evening, beneath the pulsating lights and thumping bass, she had exuded an energy that was magnetic, drawing him to her as if by some invisible force. At first, the man didn't know what was happening when he started to feel his heart quicken a beat—an unanticipated reaction that had caught him off guard amidst the revelry. But when he came to the realization, he stopped short, his jaw tensing slightly as he watched her now, in the tranquil setting of the garden, a stark contrast to the chaotic vibrancy of the club.

No. Absolutely not. The thought echoed in his mind like a warning bell, but as he continued to gaze at her, his heart only started beating quicker, thudding against his chest like a drum signaling an impending storm. He had to look at his hands, the rough texture of the calloused skin grounding him as he shook his head to himself in an attempt to dispel the feelings that surged within him. With a deep breath, he turned his gaze back to the winding path that led to the tree, the imposing silhouette of the oak standing tall and wise, seemingly oblivious to the internal struggle unfolding within him.

With each step, he wrestled with his thoughts, the cool breeze brushing against his skin serving as a reminder of the moment's reality. He knew that allowing himself to feel this way—so vulnerable and exposed—could lead to complications he was not prepared to navigate. Yet, despite the internal conflict, there was an undeniable allure in the way she carried herself, a mixture of grace and strength that both fascinated and actually quite intimidated him.

Less took a seat on the bench beside the woman, his eyes scanning the garden below them. It was quiet for a moment as they both took in the environment and situation they were both in right now. He let out a breath at her apology and nodded. He didn't say anything for a good ten seconds,

“I could have approached you differently as well- that was my fault, I was in the wrong… I apologize.”

There was absolutely no way he just said that without adding a sassy comme-

“I really did love that lamp, though. A pity…”

There we go.

He chuckled quietly, fiddling with the wood coming off at the end of the bench.

Natalia continued to look out over the gardens, her body relaxed against the backboard of the wooden bench. Her fingers slowly spun the ring on her finger, as she listened to Alessi. A small chuckle escaped at his last remark causing her to shake her head. “I will buy you a new lamp if that will help shut you up about it” she teased jokingly, her eyes looking over to him, her soft smile on her lips. It was just all so odd that she felt so much more….comfortable around him. Maybe it was how calm he was, or the words he spoke? He had promised he would make sure no one harmed her, how he would take care of them if they did. Why? She was their enemy and she was being treated so well.

Natalia was quiet for a moment before she spoke, her eyes dropping to the ground before her. “What has my father done that is so bad it has caused this” she asked quietly. She had no clue, for all she knew her father dealt with banks, it had never crossed her mind that he could have dealt with worse. “Please be honest” she added as she looked at him once again, a soft expression on her features. She didn’t want to have to be in the shadows anymore wondering the cause of this, who was her father? What had he done?

She could tell at first he was reluctant to tell her the full truth, but her eyes seemed to plead. She listened as she looked back out to the garden as the words left his mouth, explaining the monster her father was. A mafia leader, a murderer, a thief, everything she never thought he could have done. She stayed oddly quiet, her emotions holding strong. She had prepared herself for hearing the worst these last few days and honestly she was tired of crying. So simply she nodded softly, accepting the fact the only person she had left in her life was now gone. Did she even want him to come save her anymore?

The two didn’t stay outside much longer, soon traveling back inside the home, back up the winding staircase and into her room. The sound of the door locking echoing through her room as always as Alessi left her be, Natalia simply going to sit in the alcove again, this time looking past the gardens.

Time felt so strange for her in that room. As if she had been there for years already. She slowly had started a routine as she became so used to it all. Wake up, make the bed, shower, eat, go for a walk with Alessi and then sit and look out the window. Was this how Rapunzel felt in her tower? She was growing bored, but what was there to do? Go up to someone in the house and demand something? No, so she just sat.

Alessi stood with his arms out in front of the full-length mirror located in his room, his gaze locked on his own reflection as the two maids worked on fixing up his newly tailored suit. The three-piece’s dark green and black color contrasted nicely with his dark, well-fixed hair in which he could thank the girls for taking care of as well. His eyes snapped to the point in the mirror where he could see his bedroom door- just as it opened. The woman who stepped inside was of an older middle age, dressed in a light grey gown with pearls rimming the bodice, its train being light and flowy behind her as she stepped into the large room. Her matching heels clicked against the shiny wooden flooring as she neared Less, her hand brushing a curl of blonde hair out of her face.

“All right, girls. His mother can take care of the rest.”

Chiara Caballero’s elegant voice spoke, her eyes fixed on her son as she waved the maids out of the boy's room. As soon as the two young women left quarter she clapped, a bright smile on her face as she looked the boy's outfit up and down.

“You don't know how happy I am to see you've finally decided to take up a sense of actual style! Oh, you look magnificent.”

There was a moment of silence before the young man turned to face his mother, his eyes focusing on her, and his lips forming into a soft smile.

“Thank you, mother.”

She nodded and gestured for him to look up. Once he complied the pale woman reached up and tied his black cravat and fixed the rumpled collar of his suit.

“Perfect! Now, for the real reason, I came up here…”

She cleared her throat and continued,

“You do know your brother is coming to visit for a couple of weeks, and that he is arriving his evening.”

He nodded slowly and Chiara took that as an opportunity to continue.

“Well… your father and I have decided that it would be such a nice welcome home gift to throw him a party. It wouldn't be too large- just our family and all of our friends…”

Alessi felt his jaw tense at this information, his eyes narrowing.

“And what friends are we talking about?”

The woman ahead of him visibly started to stress.

“Well, uhm- you know, Bailey and his family as well as Maria and hers. And uhm… we may have invited the uhm, the Coralies? And the Johnson family…?”

Alessi stayed impeccably still, his jaw working just a bit as he took in what his mother had just said. The Coralies. And the Johnsons. Perfect. It had taken most of his strength not to absolutely combust in range, as he needed to hide his hands behind his back to save his mother from seeing their shaking. His tone was hushed and clipped as he spoke his next words,

“Yes. Yes, that's fine. Thank you for telling me, mother.”

He breathed out sharply and turned on his heel to look back at the mirror.

“I’ll be done here in a bit.”

This was a subtle way of excusing the older woman without being completely rude about it. He saw his mother nod from the corner of his eye before she turned to leave, stopping at the door.

“Also, your father would like you to bring along Nancy…or was it Natalia? Yes, bring her along tonight. We would be interested in finally meeting her.”

Alessi’s hands clenched and relaxed, repeating this a couple of times before nodding. And Chiara left.

-

It was around 6:30 PM when Alessi left his room, moving down the hall to Natalia's room- his dark green suit glistening slightly under the chandeliers hanging above. It would be about 2 hours until Lorenzo said he would be arriving and a half hour after that to wait for his mother and the staff to finish preparing for the party. Less’s younger sister was responsible for keeping Enzo occupied until then and their mother had specifically given the girl orders to keep him outside, a few minutes away from the house if possible. Alessi’s job was to; One, inform Natalia of the party and how she may accompany him, and two, help the cooks set up the food placement in the dining room.

The young man made sure to knock before entering the young woman's room, the sound sharp and brisk before stepping in. His eyes searched around the large room before finding the girl's form. He straightened, his hands moving behind his back as he cleared his throat before speaking.

“I have come to inform you that my mother and father shall be hosting a party tonight for my brother, who will be here visiting for a few weeks with his fiance… My father has asked me to invite you to accompany me tonight, as he would be pleased to finally meet you.”

Alessi’s eyes trailed her figure before meeting her eyes, his lips in a tight line. Good god- this was going to be a stressful night indeed.

Natalia was currently occupying herself in the small alcove, her eyes traveling over a book she had been given to subdue the boredom. Alexis had slowly started bringing her little things, mainly just books as it seemed that she read through them so quickly. The brunette looked up at the sharp knocking that echoed off her door, knowing exactly who it was before he could be seen. She had memorized the sound of his and the maids' knocks, the way their steps sounded as well. She closed the book softly and set it on her lap as she watched the man enter, her eyes slightly widening at the sight of him. He looked…good. Just like the night she first met him. He was all cleaned up, his suit fitting perfectly, its color glinting in the light. She was quiet as he spoke, caught off guard by his words at first. A party? A party his family wanted her to attend?

She nodded and set her book to the side as she sat on the edge of the alcove, “Are you sure?” She asked. Did he really want her to accompany him? Their enemy's daughter.

Just as he confirmed there was another knock on the door, a maid stepped in quietly. “Your mother forgot to give you this, a suitable dress for Natalia to wear” she said, setting the garment bag on the corner of the bed before she was off just as quick as she had arrived. Natalia watched the two for a moment before she stood, making her way to the bed. She began to unzip the dress only to pause, “This…” she began to speak. A stunning dress laid inside, one of fine silk. “I can’t wear this,” she added quietly, “it is far too nice”.

Alessi had reassured her, letting her know he would be back soon for her and left her to get ready. Natalia stood for a while, her mind just thinking before she got ready. She took a quick shower and did her hair, a maid had brought her some simple makeup and helped her get into her dress. Her nerves were through the roof, was this all a game? Why would they do this?

Once Natalia was ready a maid had guided her towards where the family gathered downstairs, awaiting the arrival of the other guests. Natalia slowly made her way down the staircase, her black heels clicking against the marble. Her body was adorned with a stunning wine red silk dress, its train slightly trailing behind her. It fit tight against her torso before flowing out a bit at the bottom, a high cut running up to the top of her hip. The fabric held a bit of a shimmer as well that flickered against the lights. She felt so out of place, a prisoner being dolled up for her captors. As she made it to the bottom of the stairs, her eyes met with Alessi. She held a calm expression, but deep within her eyes held a look of fear, finally meeting everyone who had been downstairs hidden from her.

There were a fair amount of people in the ballroom where the welcoming party was being held… more than Mrs.Caballero had stated there was going to be. Alessi had pictured maybe fifty people attending, but checking with the manor receptionist there were more than 200 currently here, with more arriving. Alessi had just finished helping the caterers set out the delicious-smelling food on the large table in the back of the room when a hand clapped firmly on his back. Less turned swiftly around to meet the eyes of Bailey Allen and Maria Baker. Both were dressed impeccably and the more Alessi studied them the more he noticed how coordinated they looked. A large smile was plastered on Maria’s lips as she moved in front of Bailey to greet Less. He could feel the corners of his own mouth lifting as he looked down at his good friend,

“Oh, Less! Its been far too long- Bailey’s been talking about this party all week and my parents only just told me that I’d been invited this morning.”

She spoke brightly and leaned back to eye his figure,

“You look fantastic- is this a new suit? I haven't seen you wearing it before…”

A soft chuckle left the young man and he nodded,

“Oh, you flatter me. Yes, it is. My mother had it shipped in last week from Fran-”

“Alriight. Well, however much you two need to talk about fashion, Alessi and I need to speak about more important matters, so excuse us.”

Bailey's arm moved around Alessi’s shoulder, and he pulled him away from the black-haired girl, who could be heard scoffing. She moved to slap Bailey over the head before walking away. Alessi snorted in amusement as soon as Bailey winced at the sharp movement,

“Anyway. How is Ms…?”

“Natalia.”

“Right. How is she fitting in so far? Any word from her father yet?”

Less’s brows furrowed as he poured himself a shot of whisky from the drink side of the table.

“Nothing. Not a single reply to the three letters my father has sent out. We’re actually starting to debate whether or not he’ll reply at all.”

He downed the drink before shaking his head and continuing,

“I don't know…? I mean, she’s doing a lot better than she was when she first arrived… I mean, she's not throwing lamps at me anymore. I’ve gotten her outside a couple of times- she likes the garden. And books. I’ve brought her a couple…”

Alessi shrugged, poured himself another glass, and leaned against the table. It was quiet for a moment and Less glanced briefly at the shorter brown-haired boy, who was grinning up at him.

Less’s eyes narrowed and he looked away,

“Did I say something funny?”

Bailey shook his head and let out a breathy chuckle.

“No- you didn't.”

He was still smiling when Alessi looked over again.

“Then why the hell do you have that smug look on your face?!”

Alessi’s tone rose a notch before he quieted down, a couple of people passing were glancing their way. Bailey just shook his head, his lips continuing to stay pulled up- though his head was down, his hair covering the sides of his face like he was trying to hide his expression. Less scoffed before striding away from his friend and walking to nowhere in particular. Guests greeted him politely, he nodded back. Less noted that the Johnson family had arrived and he may have eavesdropped on a conversation they were having with another couple, but Allison had apparently been busy so she could not attend after all. Wonderful… As his eyes scanned the guests around him he couldn't find Mrs or Mr. Coralie either… or Harper, but they could be arriving late.

Alessi was propped up against the white pillar of the staircase just as he saw a couple of eyes moving to an area behind him. He didn't think anything of it until not long after he spotted Bailey and Maria murmuring about something as they looked between Less and whatever as behind him. He took a double take as he glanced behind him, something catching his eye the first time he looked and causing him to completely turn around. Natalia walked down the marble staircase slowly, and he was almost certain she was unsure about everything happening before her. He sucked in a breath as he took in her entire appearance.

She was wearing a longer blood red colored dress that was perfectly fitted against her slender, hourglass frame and a slit on the left side of her dress that went to a higher part of her thigh. Alessi straightened as he felt eyes on his back, stiffening slightly as she met his eyes. Oh god- why couldn't she be foul looking? He swallowed and ran a hand through his hair, looking to the ground as she met him at the end of the stairs. His arm was held out as an offer for her to take it and when she did he started striding slowly through the crowd. He leaned over to whisper something quietly in her ear as they neared a group of older couples.

“You dress well, princess. Now, just go along with what I say, and don't feel pressured to answer anything you don't want to.”

The adult laughter quieted as the two made their way over, one of the men with darker stubble along his chin and dark hair turned and smiled.

“Ah! My son- this must be Natalia, no?”

Aurelio Caballero looked between the two before his eyes stopped on Less’s gaze. The younger man stiffened, and he hoped to god that Natalia couldn't feel it.

“Indeed. I thought it might be a good idea for you two to be introduced.”

Natalia met Alexis at the bottom of the stairs, giving a faint half smile as she took his arm. It reminded her of the night they met, her arm hesitating briefly. She took a quiet, deep breath, both of them stepping in unison as they moved forward through the crowds. Everyone seemed to part ways for them, stepping aside. Voices murmured between each other, whispers inaudible to the two as they walked side by side. Alessi still towered over the female, though her heels helped a bit with the distance. Natalia glanced at him as his shoulder touched hers, his body leaning close as he whispered to her.

Princess… a small shiver shifting through her spine. She stayed collected, nodding slightly as he reassured her and her nerves.

The two arrived behind the group of adults, their laughter filling the room. Laughter, something Natalia couldn’t find in the moment or during her time. She used to be so bright and giggly, and while things had gotten a bit better here, her laughter hid behind walls she built. Natalia let the stranger and Alessi speak first, her red lips holding a delicate and polite smile all while internally she was shaking. She stood before the man that planned all this, that had her kidnapped. How she wanted to just reach across and slap him, to scream at him for this, but she held herself composed.

Natalia had no clue what to say or how to react, her body frozen as she was introduced to his father. Normally she would be fine, eager to meet a new person but it was as if she had lost any and all words. Aurelio held out his firm hand as a smile graced his lips. He seemed to be so joyous. Natalia extended her hand as well, watching as he brought it up and placed a small kiss upon her skin as a greeting. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you sir” she said with a smile, trying to find words, how else would you greet your captor. “I have to thank you for the kindness and care you all have shown me, even under these circumstances.” She added, her hands falling in front of her gently.

Natalia glanced around briefly, her eyes observing everyone who watched the group interact. She was unsure if anyone knew who she truly was besides Alessi’s family. Did they think she was simply his date? Did they know she was trapped here? Her mind began to also think about escaping. How everyone would have drinks and maybe, just maybe she could slip out a side door and run. It was a stupid thought, she had no clue where they were and she could tell from sitting at the window that any roads were far from the property, she would never make it on foot. Natalia let Alessi speak as she pulled her mind back to the current, listening to the group speak before her.

Natalia had slowly been introduced to more and more people, just casual conversation as well. It was odd, no one was questioning her or about her father. She kept with it and just chatted as normal when appropriate though let Alessi do most of it. She stayed by his side, just a smidge behind his right shoulder, her fingers playing with her ring every once in a while. It was as if she was a lost puppy, too nervous to meet guests.

She had begun to notice more and more stares and whispers, many coming from Bailey and Maria. Anytime she would meet their eyes she would quickly look away and back to those before her. What were they talking about? She recognized Bailey from the club so she was cautious of him, but she had no clue who Maria was. It was not long before the two had made their way over to Alessi and Natalia as they had separated from the crowd.

The brief introduction between Natalia and Less’s father had taken only a couple of minutes before Alessi got the feeling that questions were going in the direction of being a bit too personal? And he was sure his father wasn't trying to be intimidating but he was… whether he tried or not. The conversation came to a close with a brief moment of silence between the three of them and then Alessi stated that he needed another drink. Mr.Caballero had nodded and when the two had turned and headed into the crowd, Less could still feel his eyes on his back. The further the pair walked into the crowd of people the more comfortable Alessi became, his shoulders relaxed and his expression became less taught. But of course, something needed to ruin that… it always did, didn't it?

The young man’s eyes landed on the face of someone familiar. Long black hair, a tan complexion, and a tight-fitting, curve-accentuating black dress- Harper Coralie stood at the entrance of the ballroom, a young man who was a bit shorter than Alessi with brown curly hair wrapping an arm around her waist. Absentmindedly, Alessi slid his arm around the waist of the young woman beside him, his movements stiff. The man turned abruptly to the left after realizing Natalie and he was heading straight for the other pair. His eyes looked straight ahead of him, focusing on a wall on the other side of the room as something in his jaw twitched- How dare she? Yeah, his mother had invited his exe’s family… and his exe but unless the man with Harper was from another family then he had no right being here. It may just be easier to kick them both out actually… that would save Coralie’s a whole lot of grief if they didn't end up finding their daughter's head on a stick later tonight… A slow cat-like grin crawled onto Less’s lips at the thought, but thankfully this was covered up as a response to the more welcome faces ahead of the pair who were approaching.

“Oh my god! Alessi- who is this? Have you finally found a girl worth your time?”

The young man winced slightly at Maria’s words that had come out far too loud than they should have been, but he still managed to keep the grin on his lips- though his eye may have twitched a tad. His head turned a tad to meet the gaze of Bailey, who was looking between the black-haired girl and Alessi. Less’s brow raised ever so slightly- had Maria not been informed of the current…situation? Bailey returned the questioning look with a glance to the ground and an anxious scratch on the back of his neck.

Alessi cleared his throat, nodded, and brought his gaze down to the petite young woman at his side, his eyes softening into something like fondness- an act, of course. He couldn't break Maria’s heart like that, could he? Ever since his last huge breakup, the young woman has been trying to set him up with so many… god, so many girls. All of which haven't worked, or things ended up being a simple fling.

“Maria, this is Natalie. Natalie-”

He nodded to Maria before continuing,

“This is my good friend, Maria Baker. A fellow colleague of mine…”

Alessi’s eyes flickered over to Bailey who was looking up at the ceiling and doing a very poor job of hiding his mischievous grin. Less’s expression immediately hardened, his eyes narrowing… this was going to be something.

“And this is Bailey.”

His voice came out far flatter than he had meant it to be. His colleague looked down, the grin continuing on his expression. Their eyes met for a brief moment and Alessi took this as his time to give him a quick shake of his head, a warning. It was a quick realization that Bailey wasn't going to let this go… and was sure to bring it up later. There was a moment of silence before the other man finally spoke,

“Yep, that's me. Thanks, Less.”

Alessi’s teeth were grinding, his expression practically daring Bailey to say something else… there was going to be a comment any time s-

“So, is he good in the bedroo-”

“Oookay then! Does anyone want a drink? I think I’ll go get a drink then. Bailey’s going to join me, you girls get to know each other, alright?”

Alessi let out a strained wheezing cough noise, a sharp laugh escaping as he slipped his arm from Natalia’s waist just to slap it on the back of the brown-haired man ahead of him, practically dragging him by the collar as they quickly made their way to the table of delicious smelling foods and drinks.

Natalia answered a few questions when asked but didn’t speak freely as the conversation continued, she stayed to herself as she listened. Everyone was being so casual, all friends with each other and just conversing about their personal lives. What would she contribute to the conversation? One of the guest wives complimented her, explaining how she was such a gorgeous young lady, another husband complimenting her voice and her accent. He had briefly asked her to speak her native tongue as well as he knew some Italian. Natalia nodded, the man asking how long she had spoken Italian.

“L'italiano è la mia prima lingua e quella con cui mi sento più a mio agio, anche se ho imparato l'inglese in giovane età, nella maggior parte dei casi mi viene facile.” (Italian is my first language and one I am the most comfortable with, though I learned English at a young age it comes with ease at most times) Natalia spoke. She seemed so much more natural in her native tongue, the language pouring from her mouth with a flare, some would say an alluring tone. They asked a few more questions, where she grew up, all the simple things but slowly it started to get more and more personal once his father took control of the conversation. Natalia was starting to creep back into the silence she hid herself in, her answers shorter, unsure. The group sat in a moment of silence before Alexis stated he needed a drink, his hand softly placing itself on the small of her back as he guided her away.

“Thank you” she whispered to him, he knew she was getting nervous. Did she really show it that easy? She followed by his side, their steps in sync as they moved through the crowd. Natalia was about to say something when she felt his arm wrap around her waist, firm enough to be more than a simple guide. Her breath caught silently in her chest, her eyes looking to his. He was looking at something and quickly turned the other way. His jaw stiffened, twitching slightly. She knew that look all too well, her father did the same when he was pissed. What, or who had caused that reaction from him? She didn’t ask, she felt it would be too much to question at the moment, or too personal.

The two arrived in front of Bailey and Maria, of course Natalia already knowing one of them. She put a fake smile on her lips, playing her part tonight though she was not fond of Bailey, he was a part of her capture no doubt. Maria’s outburst caused a small chuckle to escape Natalia, her true smile appearing at the joy that Maria’s expression held. She had no clue did she? Natalia looked up to Alexis as he looked at her, his hand tightening at her hip just for a second as he gave her a soft look. A sign to Natalia as if pleading to go along with it. She would question it later. Natalia returned his look with a smile, the corners of her red lips rising, that soft glint in her eyes appearing before looking back to Maria.

As Alessi introduced her, Natalia smiled, “It is a pleasure to meet you two” she said softly. She glanced at Bailey, watching the two men fight with just their eyes before Bailey began to speak. Her eyes widened slightly, feeling Alessi’s hand slip from her waist as he excused himself. A chuckle soon followed as Maria stepped by her side, the two watching the idiots walk away.

“I have a feeling those two are the troublemakers of the night” she joked, looking at Maria once they were out of sight. The two laughed for a few moments, making teasing jokes about the men before conversation got more informative. Maria asked simple questions at first, how they met, how long they knew each other, just simple things. Natalia played it off with them meeting at the bar and hitting it off but did not mention her kidnapping. What if she did? Would Maria have even helped her or would she go running to someone. Slowly Maria started to get deeper, asking about their feelings and everything. Natalia mentioned how he was kind, how he brought her things and they got along but tried to steer clear as much as she could. Slowly her nerves were seeping in, how much longer could she hold this lie, she knew nothing about Alessi. Though they would go on walks and he would bring her books, they never really talked about each other. They would talk about the weather or the gardens, how the dinner was the night before, but never anything about themself besides her talk of her mother. What if Maria would ask something she had no clue of?

“Well finally he has found someone, after his last girl I thought he would never find anyone else, and I tried so hard!” She began. What happened with his last relationship that her being here caused so much relief to Maria. Would he just hurry up and return so he could take over the conversation? She was waiting to slip up and say something she shouldn't have. When the men did return, Maria had nothing but a bright smile, "Oh Less, Natalia is so lovely! You two are perfect together!" She exclaimed. Natalia's cheeks only flushed a bit, trying to hold back. "Maybe she will teach you some manners too, share them with this dummy" she added, nudging Bailey.