There was a cool breeze outside this particular Saturday morning, the sun shone bright through the trees around the Caballero estate while songbirds sang their sweet, melodic tunes. Alessi stood leaning against the side hood of the shiny black Buggati that was parked in front of the large manor, scrolling through his phone slowly and running a hand through his hair a couple of times as he did so. Willa, Less’s guard dog sat to the left of him, alert as she scanned the surrounding area and after she did so, Willa relaxed and lay down at the feet of Alessi. After a long week of meetings and counseling lessons from Mr.Lopez, Alessi was ready for a break from the stressful pressure of The Scarlet Syndicate and his father. In the last meeting he attended the night before this morning Alessi’s mother, Chiara Cabellero, had took notice of how tense he had seemed and suggested that he treat himself to a free day off work to do as he please. As he found himself needing to release himself from the ties of work for a couple of hours, Alessi decided to head out of the property for a little shopping spree, if you will. He needed new clothes anyway. On this particular day, Alessi stood wearing a white polo shirt with a black overcoat and white, slightly baggy pants. His hair was more well-combed than usual, appearing somewhat slicked back at the sides.

While he had been getting ready for his outing, the idea of bringing someone along slipped into his mind. And as he couldn't stop thinking about Natalia and what happened before… he obviously ordered a maid, Tabitha of course, to inform the young woman that he would be waiting outside if she would care to join him. Quite frankly, Alessi was surprised when the manor's front doors opened and closed, revealing the pretty… Holy shit. Natalia walked down the steps of the large front porch, dressed in an impeccably fitted and styled white sundress- her hair styled simply but complementing her pretty face in such a way that Less felt the sudden need to look away from her graceful appearance. Willa looked up from the ground in which she was sniffing, immediately jumping to her paws and started barking- the noise sharp and loud enough to break Alessi’s attention from the young woman. The man whispered a quiet yet assertive hush and the dog paused for a moment, looking back at him and cocking her head before sitting back on her hind legs and watching as Natalia approached. Alessi stroked the large canine's head and felt the slow padding of her long, fluffy tail against his leg and the car at the praise.

The dog’s tongue was lolling out of her mouth, a dopey grin on her expression when Alessi finally looked up to meet the gaze of Natalia. He cleared his throat quietly and blinked at her once before letting his expression soften a tad. He spoke calmly as his eyes looked her face over,

“You look lovely.”

He took a breath in before a small smile curved onto his lips, his eyes turning towards the dog to his left who looked like she was trying to hold back jumping up onto the girl in front of her. Alessi chuckled softly and shook his head before looking up,

“I do hope you're alright with dogs. This is Willa- I thought I’d bring her along this morning as having a bodyguard trailing us sounded quite annoying, really. “

He paused, his eyes searching hers for a moment. He cleared his throat and gestured to the door of the car, opening it for her. This felt oddly familiar…

“After you, princess.”

-

The manor was at least half an hour away from any large part of civilization, but the drive was scenic nonetheless. Trees curve into the road to create some sort of arch-looking structure throughout the drive. It had been relatively quiet, aside from Willa’s occasional impatient huff or whine. Alessi’s gaze drifted over to Natalia briefly before turning back to the road,

“I thought it might be pleasant to get out of the house for a bit. Personally, I find it sort of encasing at times…”

A sigh.

“We’ll be going to a couple of different shops. I usually get my outfits tailored or buy my clothing at Maria’s place. It's a smaller corner shop, very high quality though… So we’ll stop by there, Im sure she’ll have some pieces for you to take a look at as well. That’s all I need to get done, we can just take a look around at the other shops.”

His brows rose slightly,

“Oh, and here's this. Use it as you see fit-”

Alessi dug in his back pocket for a moment before pulling out his leather wallet and opening it, only to hand Natalia a shiny dark blue and black VISA card. He had his own of course, for personal purchases.

The two finally arrived in town, parking in an almost bare parking garage. Alessi hopped out of the car, walked around the front of the vehicle and opened the young woman's swiftly door. After she exited the car, Alessi shut it with a sharp bang and moved to the side door of the car- collecting Willa from the back seat. The canine jumped out and Alessi took hold of her leash as she stood by his side. He turned back around to the girl and nodded softly, holding out his arm.

Natalia was hesitant to go out still, knowing it would just be an awkward mess now. She had finally made a “friend” with her situation and now it was gone, ruined by the desperate need of affection. She took a breath before she exited, heading down the marble staircase that led to the black Bugatti that awaited her, Alessi and Willa waiting nearby. Her eyes held a small bit of caution, her nerves stinging under her skin. She watched as Alessi paused, his eyes quickly moving from her and to the ground as she made it to the final step. When Willa jumped up, her sharp bark echoing towards the woman, Alessi was quick to correct the canine. Instantly the canine’s tongue dropped from her mouth, her tail wagging as the new human neared. Natalia let a faint smile appear on her lips as she looked to the dog, before looking back to Alessi, only to meet his gaze again. Those deep blue eyes…she couldn't get over them. She could still feel the tension hiding inside both of them, but Alessi’s softened expression and his words seemed to slowly put out the fire. A small smile curved on her lips as well after his compliment, her eyes softening a bit. She chuckled softly as she looked at Willa who was bursting with excitement, her body shaking along with her tail as she sat before them. “I love them” Natalia said softly before stepping forward, leaning down a bit as she ran her hand under Willa’s chin, scratching her softly as the canine licked at her hand. “She is a sweetheart” She added, standing tall again, leaving the dog with a soft rub to the top of her head. Natalia looked back up to Alessi as he cleared his throat, opening the car door for her.
“After you, princess” His voice spoke, a chill shooting down her spine at the words that flashed back to the night they first met. How she had gotten into his car just like now only to never get out at the promised location. What could go wrong now? She gets taken to another secret location? Natalia got into the passenger seat, sitting down softly and buckling up, setting her hands softly on her lap as she watched Willa hop into the backseat and Alessi get into the drivers. It was not long until they were on the road, traveling through the arches of trees, the way the sunlight flickered through the leaves gave a warm hue. Natalia’s gaze stayed outside the window the whole time, her eyes taking in every little thing it could. The taste of freedom just held back by a car door. Something though held her tight in the back of her mind, a silent voice telling her to stay. Natalia did look to Alessi as he spoke, explaining how the house could be encasing. He was telling her that? She nodded, a faint chuckle leaving her lips before she looked back out the window.

Natalia was focused on the world outside the car when he began to explain their destination, Maria’s place where he got his clothing. She was uninterested at first until she heard she may have some clothing for her to look at as well, then they could look around. She looked to him as he remembered something, shuffling through his back pocket and pulling out his wallet. He handed her a VISA card, Natalia taking it hesitantly at first, her brows furrowing in confusion.

“I…You don't have to do this” she said, looking at him. Use as she sees fit? Did he just really hand her a card to purchase anything she would like? Why? He was insistent though, refusing to take it back. Natalia sighed softly and slipped the card into her purse for safety. Could this day get any weirder? Why was he doing all of this after their interaction and barely speaking for some time? She would figure that out later, maybe for now she should just enjoy the time outside. It was not long until they arrived at the parking garage, barely anyone in sight. Alessi opened her door first before grabbing Willa from the back seats, taking her leash before looking to Natalia, his arm out for her once again. Natalia gave a smile and took his arm, would it be too bad to go along with it?

The three made their way down the sidewalks of the town, walking at a nice calm pace as they passed storefronts and restaurants. Natalia looked at the windows as they strolled, a smile creeping onto her features. This was much nicer than constantly walking the gardens and the paths she memorized. When they arrived at Maria’s shop, they were greeted warmly by the kind friend, instantly wrapping a hug around Natalia and then Less.

“Less already knows where to look, let’s find you something lovely” Maria said warmly before taking Natalia’s hand and leading her away from Less, Natalia glancing back at him with a chuckle. Maria helped Natalia find some outfits, her own personal stylist as she held clothes up to her before setting them in the dressing room. As Natalia tried on outfits, Maria helped Alessi with his, easy as they had a routine each time he visited. “I am quite surprised, you must really like her for her to still be around, and now taking her on a shopping spree? She has your heart.” Maria teased as she took his measurements for the clothing he chose. After the two had settled with his clothing they returned to Natalia.
“Maria, I don’t think an evening gown is a necessity,” Natalia said as she stepped out from behind the curtain, her body adorned in a stunning black evening gown. Natalia looked up to see the two waiting, her cheeks flushing as she saw Alessi. “Darling, every woman needs a black dress” Maria said as she clasped her hands together, nearing the woman as she adjusted the corset string enclosure on the back. “Just in case” She added with a chuckle, “Just means Less needs to take you out somewhere appropriate for this outfit” She added, giving Less a look over Natalia’s shoulder. The remainder of their shopping experience consisted of Maria gathering a few outfits for Natalia and checking both of them out, bagging up her new wardrobe.

It had been almost 2 hours that they had been at Maria’s shop, spending some time mingling as well before they left. Their next destination was a few more clothing stores, Natalia just getting a few lounge outfits and some pajamas, something to have of her own rather than the clothing that had been brought to her daily.

As they wandered back towards the direction of the garage they walked the opposite side of the street, Natalia slightly pausing in front of an art store. She looked inside the window before looking to Less, “Do you mind if we go in for a minute?” She asked, her eyes looking at him. When he nodded a smile pulled at the corner of her lips before she led the way inside. Art was her home, it was her life. She loved to paint, selling some of her artwork from time to time as well. As she browsed the store that bright light seemed to appear back in her eyes, her fingers tracing over the vials of paints and brushes, the smell of fresh canvases filling the air. Natalia had picked out a sketchbook and some different medias for herself, her mind tired of books. After they left she seemed to be in a happier mood, her smile stuck to her lips as they walked.

Alessi watched as Maria ushered Natalia away, blustering on about the different pieces she was so excited to show the girl. Alessi iIt hadn't taken long to find the articles of clothing Alessi was looking for, he had been going to Maria’s little corner shop since he was nine years old- when it was then named after Maria’s now unfortunately deceased mother. He skimmed through the different two and three pieces and after finding two new outfits he thought pleasing, Less turned around and sat back in one of the cushioned chairs that was a few footsteps behind him. Willa sat patiently next to him as the young man’s eyes skimmed through his phone. His attention was caught by Maria’s voice and his eyes lifted to meet the figure of Natalia, who actually might have been wearing the sexiest thing he’d ever seen on anyone. Less’s eyes met Natalia’s and he gave her a cat-like grin before standing and making his way to the cash register up front, where Maria was now hurrying over to. Making sure to give a great thanks to the young woman and paying however much was owed, the two made their way out of the store and to the next. This was a larger boutique but Alessi had always found that his close friend's shop was the best way to go. The young man had ordered a couple of different solid-color polo shirts and khaki pants before checking in with Natalia, who had chosen a few more casual as well as pajama sets.

By the point Alessi and the woman had left the clothing store it was already nearing 1:00 PM- but it didn't really surprise him that shopping for new clothing had taken more than two and a half hours… he was picky after all, and since another accompanied him, it had taken longer than usual. Not really a problem though- they’d just need to get back so Alessi’s mother didn't start fussing… The pair strolled down the concrete walkway, quickly popping by one of the local small art businesses for Natalia’s sake, and slowly made their way back to the parking garage in which Less’s car was parked. The two walked quietly. It wasn't an awkward silence per se, but they hadn't spoken to each other really at all since they drove to the urban town not too far from the Caballero manor. This was the case until the soft and quiet voice of the girl next to Alessi spoke. Her words softened the man's expression, his eyes falling to the ground in front of him as he met her walking pace and a faint smile on his lips as he nodded.

“Of course. Don’t ever be hesitant to ask me for anything…”

The two-stroke up a small conversation as they neared the garage. At some point, Natalia paused to let him pitch in what he thought about the matter and he started ranting. He was deep enough into the conversation and his personal opinion not to realize that he was the only one walking forward for a few paces. The pull of Willa’s leash and her frantic barking was the thing that caught Alessi’s attention first. Initially, the young man had thought she had seen a squirrel and was about to give her the command to quiet down, when his eyes met the absent figure off where Natalia should have been beside him. Less’s head snapped up quick enough that he thought he may have pulled a muscle, but that was the last thing he needed to worry about.

There was a man. Not far bigger than Alessi himself, but bulkier. His hand was up and covering the mouth of a horror-struck Natalia, his other arm around her waist as he started to pull her into a side alleyway roughly, he shouted something- but Alessi was only half listening. The other half of him was occupied with sprinting over and punching the man square in the jaw. The miscreant stumbled back, loosening his grip on Natalia just long enough for her to slip from his grasp and founder a decent distance away from the two men, Willa barking erratically at her side as she acted like a sort of shield for the woman. The shocked expression in the man who’d toppled over onto a pile of wooden crates was not covered by blind rage- he stood but, spitting what sounded like what he should hope was not actually an insult at Natalia, making his way quickly over to the two. He wasn't quick enough before he could know exactly what he was doing- Alessi’s hands were lifting the man by the collar of his shirt and digging his back against the brick wall of the building to the right. Less’s lips were close enough to the other man's ear that he had time to hiss out his next comment,

“I knew that son of a bitch was a half-ass but Im actually surprised that he would be so much an idiot to send a single man to take his daughter away from me.”

A slow, maniacal, and toothy smile spread onto Alessi’s mouth- his eyes blazing with something that looked oddly similar to being psychotic. The man’s head was rammed against the wall roughly, a groan, followed by a string of curses spilling from his mouth as he struggled against Alessi’s rock-hard frame. Alessi chuckled to himself and shook his head,

“I almost feel bad that you might even have the hope of being released, except…wait, I dont.”

Less’s left arm stayed firm in place, pinning the man to the wall as Alessi’s right fist nailed right into the upper stomach of the man who was now gasping for air. Another quick but just as hard ram into the wall and Alessi let him go. The blonde young man curled up on the ground, one hand around his ribcage (in which I wouldn't be too surprised if a few ribs had been snapped), the other on the back of his head which was actually bleeding from the multiple hits of the brick wall. He stayed there, rocking back and forth, completely silent with the exception of the wheezing. Alessi crouched down,

“You’re lucky I didn't have my dog deal with you.”

This earned a broken whimper of a response from the man and Alessi rose, slowly turning around and wiping his hands on the black pants he was wearing. His eyes rose to catch Natalias and he slowly made his way over, his expression tense around his jaw, his eyes narrowed. He paused only a few inches away from her, taking a sharp breath in before bending his knees slowly, picking up the still-growling canine’s leash from the ground. Alessi stood straight once more and hesitantly placed a large hand on the young woman's shoulder and pulled her into a tight embrace, all while attempting to shield the view of the man behind him with his own body. Oh god- how his heart was racing- sweat trickling down the side of his neck and onto his shirt, as he breathed heavily.

Natalia’s body trembled as her heart pounded through her chest, her eyes wide as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. She could hear every little crunch and crack as Alessi smiled, his fist laying blow after blow into the stranger. It was a horrid sight to see, but she couldn’t look away, her eyes locked on the two. Was it that she wanted to see the man crumble? Or was it mainly to make sure Alessi was okay. The maniacal smile that crawled over his lips was something she had never seen before, and it was a change from the soft expression he would give her. It was scary, it was deadly. The strength behind each blow could rattle the Earth, each one deliberate and planned. This was not just some man to man brawl in the streets, Alessi was protecting her. Willa stood her ground, her body right against Natalia as if she knew her job, not to let anything near her.

As the stranger crumbled to the floor in agony, trying to catch the wheezing breath in his chest, Natalia looked to Alessi as he returned to her. His face held a tight expression, his chest rising and falling heavily as he tried to calm himself. Her eyes stayed wide, her hands shaking as adrenaline pumped through her veins. She kept her frightened expression until she felt his hand carefully place itself on her shoulder, pulling her body against his in a tight embrace. She finally caught her breath, her eyes closing tightly as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Her body still trembled against his but it began to slow, his body turning her away from the man. She could feel his heart pound in his chest violently, his form burning with heat. He spoke softly to her, soon pulling from her embrace before placing a hand upon the small of her back and leading her out of the alleyway. Everything from that point seemed as if it were a blur, just as it had the night she was first taken. Her body felt numb, her skin cold as she sat silently in the passenger seat. Willa kept her muzzle on the armrest between the two, nudging the woman’s arm occasionally as if she could sense something was wrong.

Once back at the home Alessi led her inside, checking on her as they made it to her room. Natalia said she was fine, wanting time to just decompress after everything, just some time to be alone. She took a long shower, feeling disgusting after that man grabbed her and to just stand under the hot water to calm her mind. The night was quiet for her, she ate dinner and just kept to herself for most of the night. That was until the moon rose in the sky and everyone in the house had fallen asleep. Natalia had tried to but her mind kept her awake. Once she would fall asleep she would be woken up by a nightmare, ones so vivid it caused her body to jolt awake, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. It was the same, that man from before snatching her down the street. Over and Over again.

It had to have been hours since she tried to sleep, and finally when she woke up for the final time the alarm clock read 1:00AM. She sighed softly, rubbing her face and running her hands through her hair before she stood up, making her way out into the halls. She was hesitant at first, asking herself why she was doing this, but her feet led her down the hall quietly towards Alessi’s room. She stood outside his door for a few moments, her hand raised to knock as she questioned herself. Soon a soft few knocks could be heard upon his door, the brunette girl standing right outside in her baggy shirt and sweatpants.
“Why are you doing this?” She asked herself in her mind, about to turn around and go back to her room until she heard footsteps approaching and the door click open. She looked up as Alessi opened the door, her eyes tired. “I…cant sleep” She said softly. She felt stupid now as she stood there, going to him because of some silly nightmares, but something about him felt safe now, a safety that had been taken away not long ago. Alessi had let her in, a soft expression on his features as he closed the door behind her. She felt awkward at first, in an unfamiliar setting as she stood in his room. It was well kept, organized, dark, the same vibes he held. After some reassurance from the man she had finally taken a seat on the bed, distanced at first. He had suggested maybe a movie after she explained what had been bothering her, something to take her mind away and settle it. She agreed, the two agreeing on one with ease after a few minutes.
Natalia’s tense form softened with each passing minute, exhaustion slowly setting in as her mind no longer had to be on guard, no longer had to worry if she was safe or not, it knew she was as long as he was there. She had no clue when or why their bodies had gravitated towards each other, but halfway through the movie she found herself against his arm and shoulder, the heat of his form warming her. Her eyelids fluttered open and closed, struggling to stay awake as her breath softened. Soon her head rested softly against him, her eyes slowly falling closed. She heard his deep voice quietly speak to her, asking something along the lines of why she had chosen to run back to him. Her tired voice replied with ease.

“You make me feel safe”

Alessi was currently in the process of shedding his dirt and slightly blood-covered attire from his body. The scowl that was now on his face was from the realization that the bastard had gotten the white undersuit that Alessi was wearing dirty… Less entered the large bathroom shower with a deep sigh as the hot water trickled down his entire frame, engulfing him in a warm blanket. He stood there for a good long while, his body turned to the wall, his deep blue eyes focused on nothing in particular as his mind wandered. The entire scene that had taken place not an hour ago replaying itself in his head over and over. There had been multiple things wrong with the entire situation. First; that it had taken place. Not only that, but the man who had attempted the kidnapping (doing a horrible job of it, may I add) was one of Enzo Amati’s men. Or that's what he had yelled anyway. This concluded that Mr.Amati had actually been receiving the letters Alessi’s father had sent out and just now started taking action… in the most dim-witted way he possibly could have. This also meant that Alessi would need to make his father aware of this point and that probably meant quite a few meetings and jobs afterwards. Wonderful.

The second thing that had been off, Alessi realized right now, was the reason he had fought back and taken action. Of course, there had been the aspect that if he had ended up letting Natalia be taken without trying to do anything, Alessi’s father would have his head. But there had also been something else… something that Less had never experienced in such strongness before. The need to keep someone other than himself safe. In any other circumstance, Alessi would have just sent someone else to take care of the situation… or he might have sent his dog on them. However, this time had felt so…off? The young man had been filled with a burning, overpowering desire to get Natalia back. Less wanted the man who had dared to even touch her to suffer, and Alessi had wanted to bestow this suffering himself. Realizing how crazed and psychotic he must have come across to Natalia as she watched… made him cringe with guilt. He should have told her to leave- do something to make sure she didn't have to witness what he had done. After all he had done… why had she chosen to stay with him?

Alessi continued on in the shower, for at least ten or so minutes of just standing and thinking more before actually starting to wash the grime from the day away. The space around him was filled with steam, to the point where the man couldn't see his hands as they hung at his side. Less’s hands ran through his long, dark curls as he moved the shampoo throughout his scalp and washed it out soon after. Alessi turned off the shower, rung out his hair, and stepped out- pulling on the white silk sleep pants that had been ordered earlier today. He didn't bother with a shirt as he stepped out into the cool room outside of the bathroom, the dim glow of his bedside lamp flowing around the room, giving off a warm and comforting feeling. The boy plopping himself onto the bed with an exhausted huff, leaning against the pillows and bedframe all while taking a book from the bedside table and starting to read.

An hour or so passed before a soft knock on the door brought Alessi’s attention out of the book. He simply looked at the door for a moment before slipping out of the kingsized bed and slowly making his way to the door, shaking a hand through his now dry and messy dark hair as he opened the door to the sight of a similarly exhausted-looking Natalia. She was in a shirt that appeared far too big to be her size and sweatpants, her hair slightly tousled from what Alessi guessed was a failed attempt at falling asleep. His thoughts were proven correct when Natalia's sleepy voice spoke quietly, her big eyes looking up at him… And he was pretty sure his heart was melting. Of course, she couldn't sleep. Not after what she witnessed… Alessi cursed himself in his head once again before nodding and stepping aside to allow the brunette girl in. He watched her hesitantly move into the bedroom, her eyes scanning the large space. Alessi’s own expression was sympathetic and knowing as he found himself gesturing for her to have a seat on the bed as he himself jumped back onto it, leaning back on his elbows and forearms as he studied her. The woman seemed uncertain and Alessi’s gaze trailed to her hands, where she was fiddling with the gold rings that adorner her long, elegant fingers. He was only just surprised when she spoke. Natalia spoke tentatively, her eyes trained on her hands. And her words only made Alessi feel worse. He nodded along and explained that he would not let something like that happen again… that he shouldn't have been so absentminded that something like what had happened could actually happen…

To lighten the mood slightly, Alessi suggested that they watch a movie, his eyes trailing her form as he spoke calmly. The girl agreed and it wasn't long before the two had gravitated toward each other, and Alessi noticed too late that the young woman was practically lying on him. Her form was snug against his side as her head lay on his shoulder. It wasn't the first time that Alessi surprised himself and it wouldn't be the last… but he was allowing her to do this. The be this close. He was being vulnerable.

A question from his earlier thoughts spoke louder in his mind, prodding him to ask it. Alessi’s head turned down from looking at the screen, meeting the appearance of a very comfortable-looking Natalia. A small smile curved onto his lips at the sight of her, his eyes softening as he felt her breathing slow. He blinked,

“Why… Why didn't you run away? You had every reason to and it would have been so easy…”

He trailed off and didn't end up finishing before a drowsy voice whispered something that was enough to make Alessi’s whole build freeze. He physically couldn't move for a couple of seconds. His eyes widened as his lips parted- Alessi shifted his position slightly, leaning over to face her as he spoke,

“Wait- what? Wh-”

He cut himself off when he noticed Natalia’s eyes were closed. He let out a breath and studied her, his brows furrowed as he whispered,

“Natalia…?”

Her quiet breath was the thing that helped him realize she was asleep. Alessi blinked, and moved back to the position he was in earlier, his arm curving around the girl's shoulders and pulling her carefully closer as he breathed in. Her scent filling his senses, Alessi kissed her head tenderly pulling away only to shift down the two of them onto the actual bed so it was more comfortable. His breath fanned the side of her neck and he closed his eyes,

Alessi had probably gotten at least 6 hours of sleep the previous night- most likely the longest amount of time he’d gotten in a couple of weeks, as he was always working on papers and assignments until around 1 AM, yeah that wasn't healthy but the boy couldn't risk not having everything ready for the next day in time. In addition to that statement, the sleep had probably been the most comfortable he’d had in a while as well. Alessi had woken up to the sound of what sounded like a songbird perched right outside the window closest to his bed. He was tempted to get up and run to the aperture, open it, and brush the warbler off of the ledge. But oh how comfortable he was right now, in bed and covered with multiple comforters- basically squished between the pillows as well. The sunlight coming through the windows wasn't strong enough to bother Alessi but really quite the opposite. The warmth of the sunbeams shone onto the kingsized bed he lay in, giving a soft and whimsical glow to the room. A big yawn left Alessi’s mouth and he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, a groggy but peaceful expression on his face. As he had turned his head to look to his left, Less had expected to see the girl who had fallen asleep here the previous night here, asleep, next to him. He stared at the empty spot, blinking once, his face holding a straight expression before his brain registered that Natalia was in fact… gone.

The man was up and out of bed, speed walking (more closer to sprinting actually) out of his bedroom door before he could even bother to put a shirt on. Alessi moved swiftly down up hallway and to Natalia’s room. He opened the door quickly but quietly, his eyes scanning the area frantically. The bathroom door was open, the light off- nobody in there, and the main area of the bedroom where the girl's bed, wardrobe, and open space was empty as well. Alessi cursed under his breath, turned abruptly, shut the door behind him, and started walking briskly up the hall once more. He turned the corner sharply in plans to check the first floor when a taller blonde maid yelped, nearly running into him. Alessi didn't apologize… it was her fault for not looking where she was going anyway, but he did stop to ask her something.

“Evelyn, have you seen Natalia? I checked in on her this morning and she’s not in her room…”

The man’s heart was quickening, more so when she shook her head, her brows furrowing in concern.

“I’m afraid I haven’t, sir. I only just arrived.”

A pause before she continued,

“I’m sure she's fine, she seems like a smart girl, maybe she just took a wrong turn somewhere… I do hope you find her though.”

Evelyn offered him a kind smile and he nodded back, muttering a thanks under his breath before quickly moving down the marble spiral staircase. Alessi checked every room he passed as he made his way to the right section of the manor's first floor. Nothing. Through his nervousness, Less didn't even stop to think about the delightful smell of breakfast further down the hall. Eventually, he made it the the kitchen area of the establishment, quickly turning to appear in the doorframe. His hair was rugged and his breath came out in quick breaths as he spoke to who he thought was currently in the kitchen.

“Meredith- you haven't seen Nat… Natalia.”

His brows rose as he took in the sight of the young woman; her hair was up in a messy bun and her clothes comfortable and casual, an apron tied around her front as she looked to be making...breakfast, ah. She looked amazing. And Alessi was now far more conscious about how he must have appeared at that moment; messy hair, slightly pink cheeks from running around so much, no shirt and sleep pants. He shut his mouth and chuckled, shaking his head as he made his way over to the young woman. Keep it cool Less…

“I didn't know you liked cooking.”

Natalia continued to hum along as she began to plate the breakfast, setting the food at the smaller breakfast table inside the kitchen. She was beginning to finish up with the final few strips of bacon and the pan of scrambled eggs when she finally heard the rushed footsteps nearing, followed by a familiar voice turning into the kitchen and speaking to Meredith, or who he thought was Meredith. Her eyes looked up to see the form of Alessi quickly turning through the door frame of the kitchen. He looked as if he had been running through the home, which he had been unbeknownst to her. A chuckle escaped her lips as his brows rose, realizing it was Natalia who was in the kitchen cooking.
“Well Good Morning” She said with a smile, pushing the scrambled eggs from the pan and onto a dish. Looking back up to Alessi, her smile stayed upon her pink lips, noticing his slightly flushed cheeks, and of course his attire. He spoke, not realizing that Natalia liked to cook. I guess she had never told him.
“I love to, probably more than my love of art” She spoke as she slipped the apron off and set it folded on the counter. She washed her hands before she turned to face him once again. “What? Never had a lady cook for you before?” She questioned with a teasing tone, “Over there blushing like a schoolgirl” She added with a chuckle as she moved towards the table. She took a seat, looking over to see his shocked expression at her tease, shaking her head as she began to dish out the food. “Now come on, I made it for us” She said as she plated some for Alessi as well. Her heart still felt quick when he was around, especially after the events of the day before and that night. This feeling slowly became more prominent to her but she couldn’t let it show, she couldn't even comprehend it yet.

~

Since the events of the shopping trip, it felt as if the bond between the two only grew stronger. Some would say she was taking his time and attention. When he wasn't in meetings, the two found something to occupy their time. They had avoided leaving the property in case her father had more men waiting, but it seemed as if it had all calmed down. Natalia didn’t know what the occasion was, but one afternoon Alessi had visited her with a bright smile, informing her to get ready for that night and to wear the evening gown Maria had provided her with. Natalia was of course confused, they were going out? Somewhere important enough to wear that attire? She didn't question it any further, getting ready as she was told to. Natalia met Alessi down stairs, speaking as she walked down the marbled floor, “Alessi, what the hell are we doing?” She questioned as she reached the first level. She paused for a second, her eyes meeting him as he stood waiting, dressed to the nines in a suit that looked…so good on him.

Alessi had made his way closer to Natalia as she spoke, her focus on the mouthwatering food she was preparing. He nodded along, his expression relaxing as the girl continued to talk. Probably more than she loves her art. That was surprising… and it seemed Natalia absolutely adored artwork quite a lot, so she loved cooking dearly as well. Interesting. Alessi couldn't say he liked cooking, baking, or anything about the manor kitchen. His mother had attempted to teach him to bake chocolate toffee biscuits, which ended horribly. The older woman had stated that she didn't even know how someone could mess such a simple thing up. There had been dark smoke flowing through the kitchen, which caused Alessi’s father to come down from a meeting on the third floor because he thought a fire had occurred. A small shiver crawled up Alessi’s spine in remembrance of this event. Afterward, Less was discouraged from entering the kitchen- while his little sister, Aria, had been instructed how to bake and cook by their mother instead.

The young man’s eyes followed as she worked meticulously around the scullery. He watched as she worked on the eggs and bologna. His eyes remained focused on her even when she turned to face him, her tone teasing as she spoke her next words. Alessi’s brows rose and he glanced to the ground. He had. He had women cook for him before- but it was always someone assigned to the job… His mother had never baked anything for him for noneducational reasons, and neither had his sister, his grandmother when she was still alive. Less’s head snapped up at Natalia’s next little comment and he was sure he was beet red at the moment, he stammered-

“I- what, no. I am not blushi-...”

Maybe it would be better for him just to stop talking. So he did. Alessi made his way to the other side of the table outside of the kitchen area and took a seat. The food that was placed in front of him smelled absolutely delightful. Scrambled eggs, bacon, and different kinds of pastries were placed neatly around the plate. His eyes softened as he looked up at her, a small smile moving to his lips as he nodded.

“Thank you.”

-

It had been a couple of days since the outing incident, and Alessi hadn't been wrong about the meetings that would arise. It had been a very busy couple of weeks for Less and his father- trying to figure out what they could do to keep both Natalia safe and themselves as the two attempted to bring up ideas on how they could get Mr.Amati to hand over what he owed without taking his daughter back before he did so. Alessi and Natalia found time to keep each other company whenever Less found himself having free time, whether that be exploring the estate’s property, or reading in the afternoon. Alessi had even agreed to take part in a painting one morning. At this point in the day- around 3:20 PM- Alessi had rushed up to Natalia to inform her far more excitedly than he would have normally been about something that he had set up for the two of them later that night. He was hinting to her in the brief conversation that she may want to wear the gown she had received earlier for the occasion. And before she could ask anything else, Alessi had turned and rushed back to his own quarters to get ready.

An hour or so later Alessi had made his way down to the front room of the manor, his appearance being very much of a devil-may-care atmosphere. He stood in a poised manner, a black and white three-piece black suit adorning his athletic build- as well as his newly shined black leather shoes. Less’s hair was styled in a side part, combed over with a comb, and quickly ran through with his fingers to make it appear more natural and full. The man stood at front the two large front doors, briefly checking the silver watch on his wrist. Almost on cue, the clicking of heels moved down the stairs- as well as a familiar feminine voice. Less looked up and couldn't hide his slow grin as he took in Natalia's appearance. She wore the black evening gown that had been purchased on their last time out together, as well as matching heels- her hair styled impeccably. The woman looked… phenomenal.

Alessi held out his arm to her and the two made their way outside to the black car parked down the steps. His posture was straight as he looked down at her,

“We… are going out for dinner.”

He helped her into the car and got in on the other side himself, starting it up and swiftly pulling out of the manor driveway. Now, did Alessi tell anyone other than Natalia that they would be out in town tonight? No. The reason? His father wouldn't allow it. And Alessi wasn't about to be told what to do. He had attended all of his father's meetings and helped the older man become informed about everything that Alessi had picked up on that eventful evening a couple of weeks ago. Less didn't need to tell his father everything he had planned… No, this was fine. Right?