This particular Friday morning had been more than a bit stressful for Alessi. He had needed to wake up extra early- 4:45 AM to be exact- just to make sure he had enough time to prepare for the day and an upcoming meeting that would be taking place at 6:00 AM in his father's conference room. It was bad enough that it had taken Alessi thirty minutes to scramble about his room and find a suitable outfit. Less’s father had informed him that it was to be a simple check-in and really overall chat about the situation they were in regarding Natalia’s father and his lack of response to the many letters that had been sent out. He had also stated that only a few others would be attending the conference as well; Alessi’s mother, Chiara- as well as Marcus- who happened to be Alessi’s personal trainer and overall assistant. Yeah, no- this didn't really sound casual whatsoever. But it really was surprising how long it took for Alessi to find a proper suit and matching bottoms, he would need to make sure to inform Tabitha of this later…

The man checked his phone's clock quickly before exiting his room and heading down the long, spiral staircase of the manor. 5:15 AM, it read. Not bad actually. Alessi had enough time to move over to the kitchen and have a decently filling meal made up of scrambled eggs, a pastry roll, and a glass of milk before heading to the conference room that was fortunately just a couple doors down from the dining room

The meeting hadn't been too different from the few others that Alessi had before about Natalia’s “hosting”. Again, no word from her father or anyone else working for him. Not surprising, really. The group spoke about different ways to try and coax the stubborn man to come and retrieve his daughter, as well as pay what he owed The Scarlet Syndicate. The time had passed by and it wasn't until Alessi checked his phone again did he spoke up about having to dismiss himself. 11:22 AM. Well- that had taken far longer than expected… But now Less had something other than work to attend to. He was a man of his word… when he meant things at least, and he had promised Natalia to take her to one of the lakes on the Caballero property for a quick swim. Plus- the weather this afternoon was absolutely perfect for a nice wade in the cool water.

-

Alessi arrived at the front of the manor at noon. It was unfortunate to be a little late and keep the young woman waiting, but Less’s swim shorts had gotten lost in one of the manor washing machines so it had taken a bit of searching to find them. Once he had found them, however, he stripped out of his formal wear changed into the darker cream-colored bottoms, and pulled on a white polo that he kept unbuttoned at the top.

Once Less had managed to get out the door and find where Natalia was located outside, the two started their way down to the lake. It wasn't an entirely long trek to the spot that Alessi had planned to take her; The Pier. It was a scenic walk, maybe a mile or two before you arrived. They went on a smaller path that led down to the actual swimming pier, where a larger gazebo sat on the side of the water as a sitting area. There was a mixture of elm and aspen trees that surrounded the lake, making for a pretty little spot away from the chaos of The Manor. The two had carried their towels to the gazebo, setting them down before Alessi unbuttoned his shirt, facing the lake before flinging it to one of the seats and striding off at a quicker pace to the water. He waded into the strikingly clear water, it was surprisingly cold in temperature- but they were also in a well-shaded area so that was probably why.

Alessi dipped into the water swimming out a bit further until he could just barely touch the sandy bottom of the lake. At this point there wasn't any point in trying not to get his hair wet, it was already starting to get damp. It was a moment before the black haired boy realized that the only noise water related was coming from himself. His brows furrowed slightly in confusion before he turned around, his eyes meeting the form of Natalia. Who was still standing at the water's edge. Listening carefully to her comment about staying up on the land and hanging out there caused a scoff and a bark of laughter to exit Alessi’s lips.

“Oh, you can't be serious! I invited you to swim, not stand there like a lemon.”

A pause. The slow formation of an almost playful smirk on Less’s lips.

“If you don’t come out here yourself, I suppose I’ll just have to carry you in myself…”

That seemed to get her attention and he heard her mumbled a fine before she turned to undress from the shirt and shorts covering her black two-piece. Alessi watched as she turned and started into the water and he had to check himself to make sure he wasn't gawking. The water around her slender, tanned frame rippled as she got slowly closer…. Almost hesitantly slow. The bikini itself was on the smaller side and he didn't have to look twice to see that it accentuated everything about her. Her curves, her smooth lightly tanned, freckled skin- his eyes flickered to an area right in the center of her chest that curved to the right, just above her naval. His brows furrowed for a split second before he forced his face to relax.

“See? Much better out here.”

His voice was even in tone as he spoke, his gaze moving from the scar to Natalia’s face. He had taken note that the scar appeared well-treated, and it didn't look recent per se… He offered her a rare genuine smile as he cocked his head to the side.

“Do you not like the water, princess?”

He paused before leaning back slightly, dragging his arm across the water until he brought it back in Natalia’s direction, creating a loud splashing sound and resulting in not only her getting absolutely drenched but him as well.

Natalia carefully waded out into the water, the cool touch sending goosebumps to ripple over her skin. She could touch until the water was just at her collarbones before the sandy shelf dropped down, farther than that her feet could no longer touch. Her heart still raced as he looked at her, a genuine smile as he tilted his head. Why? Why did that smile always have to lure her in? The sun reflected off his damp hair and tanned skin, the man before her easily could still touch the bottom.

She let her body slowly start to float, had it really been that long since she had swam last? It was like her body needed to remember how to. Her eyes looked back at him as he questioned if she didn’t like the water, but there he added it again…Princess. Why did he keep doing that? Why did it affect her so much?

“I’ve never really swam besides a few times as a kid, I've never been a huge fan” she said honestly, using her hands to keep her body afloat while her feet softly kicked, the sand below now too deep for her to touch. Before she could say anything else, his arms moved quickly, sending a large splash of water over both of them. She let out a small gasp as she wiped the water from her face, though quickly after a smile replaced her shocked expression. She chuckled as she looked at him and his mischievous smile, Natalia returning the favor by sending water his way.

“Don’t you start” she teased playfully with a chuckle as she brushed back her now soaked hair. Once he seemed to have settled, she took a breath, letting her body finally relax, her tense shoulders softening. Maybe this wasn’t so bad.

She floated quietly for a moment before looking back to him, a question on her mind that had been clawing to get out. “Why do you keep calling me Princess?” She asked, her head tilting just a bit as she looked at him. “Hell when you were drunk you kept calling me love, sweetheart, you have the whole book of names going” she added with a small chuckle, shaking her head a bit. Why all these names when they were supposed to be enemies. She was thankful they were so kind to her but the whole situation just felt off.

She floated around as she waited for his answer, using her arms to pull her a little bit farther out from shore. Even in the water she had an ethereal glow about her, the way the water rippled around her body, the sunlight forming a sort of halo of light around her. How was it these two opposite people were getting along so well? He was darkness and she was light. He was a killer and she was a healer. Is it true that opposites attract?

There were a couple of seconds of playful splashing for Alessi to settle into the refreshing embrace of the cool lake finally, his legs kicking in front of him and his arms propelling him further back. As Alessi floated, his attention shifted away from Natalia, who had ventured out to a far enough distance that she was now treading water. He couldn't help but notice how diminutive she appeared compared to his own stature, which he found endearing. Adjusting his position, Alessi allowed his body to sink a bit deeper into the water until he could lean back and gaze up at the magnificent, tall trees that stood on the edge of the lake. The leaves of the tree were gradually transitioning into a vibrant display of autumn colors, with hues merging into a breathtaking rainbow that arched gracefully over the tranquil reservoir, enhancing the already serene atmosphere of their swimming spot. He let out a small, contented sigh as his eyes followed the bright red cardinal that flew across the canopy above.

Alessi’s calm would soon turn abruptly to alarm, his head shooting up and carrying water with it as his ears had hardly taken in the girl's question but her bringing up of the events of a night not even a week ago had sent a jolt of panic through his head- and expression. The toned young man visibly paled as he recalled the few memories of the night a couple of days ago. He didn't remember much except for some of the key details; the reason for the unfortunately short struggle between Bailey and himself, coming home drunken to the point where he couldn't walk without his brother's help. The last thing he could remember was Natalia offering to help him and leading him to her room… Alessi’s eyes widened as he continued to think and he sat up completely, facing away from the woman at first. His mind was racing… From the few words Natalia had shared, it sounded like it was quite possible that he overshared. Had he overstepped? Did he… do anything? Oh my fucking god, I better not have… Alessi thought to himself.

The dark-haired man turned back around slowly and tried to ease out the calm expression he had on earlier… when he had meant it. Alessi blinked slowly and attempted to let out a quiet and natural laugh. But really it just came out slightly strained. Oh god- he had done something, hadn't he? Or maybe he hadn't and he was just really overthinking things… but was he internally feeling calm enough to consider this? No. Internally he was mortified.

“I don’t know? I suppose I addressed you as something similar when we were first introduced… it must have stuck. I haven't been completely aware of it until now…”

Alessi let off a casual shrug but his eyes remained firmly trained on the young woman a few feet away from him. He stared at her just a moment too long before looking at his hands. He was stressing-

“I ehm- I didn't happen to say or… do anything else of significance importance that night?”

Damn it all…

At first, Natalia’s explanation of his drunken conversation with her had seemed innocent enough… but the boy didn't really get a chance to relax, because soon after the first part of her statement, Natalia continued to speak about how Alessi had brought up and- from what it sounds like- had gone into some sort of depth about his exe, Harper. The young man was suddenly exceptionally uncomfortable with this conversation, but he stayed quiet- allowing Natalia to continue on with her questions. Good lord, why did she have to be so curious? So, so many questions left her lips. But eventually, she paused, waiting for a response from Alessi. Usually, Alessi wouldn't feel the need to answer such personal questions asked by people he knew…. But it was something about Natalia that made him feel as though he needed to. Maybe it was the way her big, innocent brown Bambi-looking eyes looked away from his face as she apologized quietly for asking, or maybe it was because- even though Alessi would never admit it now- he was growing more comfortable around her, maybe even to the point where he felt he could trust her with the information he shared next.

Alessi ran a hand through his tousled dark hair, feeling the strands slip through his fingers with a slight tingle. He bit the inside of his cheek, a habitual nervous gesture, contemplating his thoughts before releasing his hold. With a dismissive shake of his head, he expelled a short, dry chuckle that echoed around him. His gaze, previously fixated on the gently flowing water, lifted to land on the girl's form.

“I- no, please dont apologize.”

Upon feeling the weight of his emotions, he slowly tilted his head upwards, his eyelids squeezing shut in a desperate attempt to maintain his composure. There was a brief moment of tension as he grappled with his inner turmoil. Then, a peculiar sound escaped from his lips, a mixture of exhaustion and acceptance, before he acquiesced with a weary nod, silently acknowledging the reality of the situation he found himself in.

“Um, yeah. Yes- to every one of your questions. I didn’t want Harper to come that night, but my mother invited the whole godforsaken family to celebrate my brothers arrival. Harper’s parents work with my father sometimes, while Harper came along with Maria, Bailey, and I on other work assignments.”

Alessi narrowed his eyes, his brows furrowing, and let out a quiet sigh,

“After the breakup, she stopped coming to work and ghosted Maria and Bailey. I think she and her new boyfriend are working somewhere else… I don’t know.”

After a few moments of silence, Alessi made up his mind and made his way over to a shallower spot near the pier, leaning against the slick wooden boards of the dock as he gazed down at Natalia, who was only a feet away.

“Well, now that we’re apparently close enough to be asking personal questions…”

He paused, raising an eyebrow and gesturing subtly to her chest with his chin- where the large scar spread generously across.

“Are you going to tell me what thats from?”

He looked at her with a slightly cock of his head, his eyes looking into hers with a new sort of fascination glinting in them.

Natalia watched the man before her, every movement, the way his jaw clenched, shoulders tightened, everything. It was a touchy subject, she knew that now. Betrayal was a terrible feeling, one she would say felt worse than any pain. Natalia was one to read people off their movements and reactions, so it was easy to read Alessi. He clearly was not one to share his feelings, she could tell by the way his body grew uncomfortable. She understood it, she was not one to really ever talk about herself or her feelings, just to listen and be there for others. She had grown so tired of people feeling bad for her that once she moved she hid her true self deep inside. To everyone around her she was just a loving, caring girl who loved to know people and their lives. Some would say it was a way to escape from hers.

Alessi began to explain his reasoning for averting Harper; she couldn’t blame him. She sounded like a bitch anyway. Natalia took note of his words as well as how he reacted when he spoke, that hint of dark in those pools of blue anytime he mentioned her name. Natalia opened her mouth to speak only to hear Alessi speak once more. Something she was hoping he would just forget was brought up. As he rested back against the pier, his eyes gazed down at her as he asked about her scar. Her blood seemed to freeze, her heart quickening as she tried hard to keep a calm expression. She should’ve known he would ask, who wouldn’t. Anyone would be curious if they saw such a hideous feature.

Natalia let out a soft sigh, her eyes looking to the water as she tried to gather her words. Did she want to tell him the truth? Maybe a joke would be fine? Alessi had just shared something personal about himself so he had the right to know something about her.

“Well….my body hates itself. It has my whole life. When I was born I had no immune system, I was constantly very ill. I told you how I was sick for a while and my mother brought my plants inside. Well I was so sick I couldn’t even go into my own garden, couldn’t walk down the halls or even stand for myself. My immune system likes to attack my body instead of actual illness.” Natalia began, her fingers fiddling with a fallen leaf as she spoke.

Slowly she dove deeper into her life, her words becoming shaky as it reached harder topics. She had never actually told anyone about this, no one besides her family. Why was she telling him? She could have stopped.

“Well as a fun joke apparently, my immune system began to attack my heart, slowly killing it. The doctors said it is Autoimmune Myocarditis, my heart is weakened and unable to pump blood properly. So when I was 13 I had to have a heart transplant. During that surgery they found it was attacking my liver, so I had to have that replaced as well.” She continued, her face flushing a bit.

“So here I am now, standing in a lake with a stranger, waiting for when I have to do it all over again because it will happen. Over and over.” she finished with. Her eyes still never looking at him. Shit….why did she overshare so much. Couldn’t she have just kept her mouth shut.

Alessi was fiddling with a loose piece of wood on the side of the pier right as Natalia started speaking again. He stopped what he was doing abruptly, his eyes darting back to the young woman whose expression seemed so very raw as she continued on with describing her cautious seeming lifestyle. She pressed on with this while Alessi was struggling to digest all of this information calmly. His lips were parted while his eyes slowly widened, an unreadable expression crossing his features as he mentally illustrated what she was describing. After Natalia finished speaking, all the young man could think about was a little girl restrained to a bed for most of her life… the lack of freedom she must have had shocked Alessi as he thought deeper, his face gradually paling. And he had made her life even harder now… holy shit. Autoimmune Myocarditis. Heart implant. Kidney replacement… The words struck Alessi like a blow in the chest. How… how?

Less, startled, drew in a sharp inhale as her final words hung in the air, causing him to move closer until he was within arm's reach of the young woman. His eyes, filled with a tumult of emotions, gazed down at her, his mind reeling. It struck him that she was like a sitting duck, vulnerable and exposed, seemingly awaiting the next calamity to befall her. Blinking, his mouth fell slightly agape as another realization dawned on him, a sudden flood of overwhelming sensations swirling through his head. The mere thought of any harm coming to her sent a surge of determination and protectiveness coursing through Alessi. The image of impending danger, whether in the form of a heart attack or stroke, loomed ominously in his mind, a lurking presence just around the corner, threatening to shatter the fragile peace they had managed to find.

Alessi found that he had gotten so close to Natalia that he could feel the heat radiating off of her form, he slowly let out a quiet exhale- his right hand raised to gently tilt Natalia’s chin up so their gazes could meet. His gaze was soft, his lips parted in awe at the beautiful creature in front of him. Less’s eyes studied her innocent face, moving from her eyes to the freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose and onto her cheeks, to her lips… His eyes remained there as he spoke slowly, his tone low and hushed -

“I’m going to make sure nothing can ever hurt you again….”

Alessi found himself studying her features again. How couple something so precious have to go through something so abhorrent? The young man’s hand moved from her chin and slowly to the line of her jaw, lifting it only a bit to brush a loose strand of hair behind Natalia’s ear and it rested there for a moment before drifting to the back of her neck, cupping it softly as he let out a slow breath. Alessi only now realized that he had leaned in and that his breath was now close enough to fan her lips. He hesitated. This was a bad idea… oh this was a terrible idea.

And his lips met hers.

Natalia’s body held a tight frame, her walls slowly wanting to build up again. She was now more vulnerable than ever. What if this is exactly what his family wanted, a way to use her even more against her father. They could tell him she was sick again, that surely had to get his attention right? She kept her eyes to the water, trying to follow the ripples and distract her mind rather than looking to Alessi. She had shared too much. Her mind was spinning, thoughts clattering around her mind. Maybe he would be like everyone else who knew about her health, just leave because she was a burden. Why waste their time when it could end at any second.

Natalia continued to keep her eyes down, her fingers no longer fiddling rather they were holding each other tightly. Natalia hadn’t even noticed how close Alessi had gotten, how his form slipped through the water to hover just before her. Their body heat radiated off of eachother, his form casting a shadow down to her as his gaze watched. Natalia was stuck in her own mind at the moment, that was until she felt his fingers gently lift up her chin, pulling her gaze to his deep blue orbs. His eyes took in every feature she had, every little freckle or glint of light that reflected off of her face. She watched him, her brows furrowed just a touch in confusion. Her lips had parted slightly to speak but nothing came out. What was he doing? Why was he looking at her like this?

That’s when he spoke.

Her brows furrowed a bit more, what did he mean? Why did he care for her safety, he kidnapped her? Her body seemed to tighten even more, trying to protect itself. Her mind screaming at her “Don’t let him in, you already said too much”. Though she couldn’t help it as his hand lifted from her chin and moved to her jaw. His calloused hand was gentle against her soft skin, as if she was a fragile doll of porcelain. He moved her fallen strand of hair behind her ear before sliding behind her neck. His face was so close to hers, her face flushing in her cheeks as she felt his breath against her lips. She wanted to say something but she couldn’t. She couldn’t do anything.

Before she knew it his lips pressed softly against hers, but just deep enough, as if his body needed this. She was tense for a moment, but after a second her shoulders fell slightly, relaxing against his touch. When he pulled away she was silent for a moment, her eyes looking to his, what had just happened. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“W….why?” Was all she could ask, her voice quiet as he still held her form.

The kiss had been tender and actually quite brief. Their lips, soft and enchanting, met in a fleeting moment that took Alessi by surprise. Natalia, typically reserved and guarded, seemed to be embracing the connection as she neither pulled away nor pushed him aside. Her surprising reaction left Alessi wondering about the depth of emotions simmering beneath the surface, resonating through her plush lips that held an unexpected warmth. As he found himself caught in the spell of the moment, a wave of confusion washed over him, causing his thoughts to blur and swirl like mist in the air. The tenderness of the kiss lingered in the air, wrapping around them in a cocoon of silent understanding, as time seemed to momentarily stand still. Alessi couldn't help but feel a rush of conflicting emotions flood his senses - a mixture of curiosity, desire, and a twinge of uncertainty. The fuzzy sensation in his mind only deepened his intrigue, compelling him to unravel the enigma that was Natalia. With each passing second, the moment of their lips meeting felt like an eternity, etching a memory that would linger in their minds long after the kiss had ended.

The young man, his movements cautious and deliberate, gradually moved away from Natalia. In that moment, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions engulfed Alessi, tugging at his heartstrings. Unwillingly, he found himself yearning for a prolongation of their brief encounter, the memory of their locked gazes etching itself deep within him. Natalia's radiant honey-colored eyes mirrored a turbulent sea of emotions, a bewildering mix of bewilderment and something indefinable, something that eluded easy classification. As Alessi lingered, his posture slightly bent, his head angled towards Natalia's face, it was as though time itself had paused, suspended in the air, as he endeavored to decipher the enigmatic riddle her expression posed before him, exploring the depths of the hidden secrets within her searching gaze. The two were absolutely silent for a couple paces and Alessi couldnt tell if he was breathing or not just as the pretty girl spoke, her tone quiet. Why?

And to be honest? Alessi didnt know the answer to that question himself. The young man’s brows furrowed vaguely and he bit the inside of his cheek before speaking, his eyes averting to a spot at the side of Natalia as he spoke lowly.

“I don’t know.”

-

The two had left the lake almost immediately after their interaction. Alessi had led her back to the manor silently, and it took all of his willpower to not glance in her direction. His expression was unexpectedly placid as he walked up the long staircase to the front door of the estate and turned to face Natalia. He licked his lips quickly before opening his mouth to say something. He then thought better and shut it, turning back around and reaching for the door handle, pushing in and holding the door open as the brunette walked in. Less headed swiftly up the spiral staircase and escorted Natalia to her room. When she entered the bedroom, Alessi stood at the doorframe for a quiet moment before he cleared his throat and forced himself to speak evenly.

“I’ll be back in an hour to make sure you've had your dinner.”

Before he could listen for a reply, Alessi shut the door, turned on his heel, and headed quickly to the office at the very end of the hall. His head spinning as he did so.

Natalia stood in her room as Alessi spoke, his eyes searching for anything to look at except her as he explained he would be back to make sure she had dinner. Natalia simply nodded, her fingers holding themself as she too looked away to the floor. Her mind was flooded with so many thoughts and feelings, most of which she could not quite understand at that moment. It had all felt like a dream, like that moment at the lake had not truly happened, but she realized it was real as the two walked back to the home in silence, keeping their distance and eyes straight ahead. Once Alessi had left, closing the door behind him, Natalia waited for the sound of his footsteps to fade in the distance before she sat at the foot of her bed. She sat for some time, trying to comprehend everything. Why had she opened up so much to him? To a complete stranger. Why didn’t she pull away or slap him? Why did it feel…needed? It felt as if the two had shared a connection they both had been deprived of. She couldn't wrap her mind around any of it. Maybe they both had just been craving the affection of another? Natalia continued to think about it for quite some time. She finished her dinner and spent the remainder of her night reading, trying to pull her mind out of her thoughts.

From that day every interaction between the two just felt off. Their guarded walls had raised once again, their eyes constantly looking for anything to focus on. Their walks were quiet besides simple how are you, the weather’s nice, simple words. Would they ever get back to normal? Well, what was normal for them.

-

It had been about 2 weeks since the lake, several days of quiet around the home. Natalia had now been in the Cabellero’s home for a month. Not a single word from her father still. Maybe he didn’t care anymore. Everything was just as it had been, Natalia had been in her room reading or out in the gardens, Alessi busy with work, him and his father trying to pry anything from Amati. During those weeks Natalia just came up with the conclusion that their moment at the lake was just a vulnerable moment for the two, a moment their minds had needed and they had been at the same place at the same time. She had been so lonely, with no one to speak to or open up to during her time there as well as for several years of her life. She pushed herself to move from it, it was nothing. It meant nothing.