19

19
Alaric’s POV
“You’re quiet,” Allesio’s voice rang through the living room. It was only me here, Emilia and Francesca had gone to their rooms. It was probably that she didn’t want to stay around me, because the moment I stepped into the living room with my laptop, she carried Francesca, who was sleeping, and left.
I ignored Allesio, not interested in having a conversation with him. If he thought I was quiet, then I didn’t know what he expected me to do. I was working, and I continued to do just that, keeping my focus on my laptop and typing.
“Well I’m going to the bar. Do you want to come with? Might help relieve your stress a bit,” he continued, heading to the door.
“Just go to wherever you want to , Allesio,” I murmured, keeping my focus on my laptop. He didn’t say anything, and that got me suspicious because Allesio would have retorted. I frowned at that. He was definitely up to something. In the blink of an eye, he snatched my laptop from my hand and closed it.
“I insist.” He said simply, giving the laptop to one of the men standing in the shadows.
“Give it back,” I growled but he just made a face.
“You need to unwind. Come on, let’s go,” he insisted.
I grunted, considering him for a moment before deciding that I would follow him. It wasn’t often I indulged in things like this, letting down my guard enough to just… relax. But tonight, maybe I’d let myself. I followed Allesio out the door, feeling the restlessness that had been gnawing at me for hours now, growing with each step.
We didn’t take time before we got to the bar, and when we walked in, the dim lightening and low hum of chatter mixing with soft music felt like a good relief.
Allesio clapped me on the shoulder as we slid into a booth toward the back. From here, I could see most of the bar, its patrons laughing and clinking glasses, some leaned close in quiet conversations, others being wild with their friends. They were having fun, and I kind of wanted that for myself too.
“Drink?” Allesio asked, already signaling to the bartender before I could answer. I nodded, though I barely cared what it would be. It was barely late into the night, and the need to just unwind and be free was stronger than any particular craving.
As the bartender brought over our drinks, Allesio threw me a look. “You’ve been tense lately.”
“I’d say that’s an understatement,” I muttered, raising the glass to my lips. The burn of the whiskey felt good, grounding.
“You know, sometimes it wouldn’t hurt to get your mind off things. Not every problem needs your hands all over it, Alaric,” Allesio said, leaning back casually, but his eyes were serious. He always had a knack for knowing when I was running myself into the ground.
I scoffed, swirling my drink. “Easier said than done.”
His gaze flickered over to a group of women nearby, laughing and clearly enjoying their night. “Doesn’t have to be. Look around. You could have a good time, no strings attached. Just a break.”
I followed his gaze, and that’s when I noticed her. She was standing a few feet away, her smile bright but not overdone, her laughter easy as she chatted with her friends. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and her eyes had that spark of life I hadn’t seen up close in… too long, probably.
For a moment, I hesitated. Women didn’t complicate my life; my life complicated things for any woman who got too close. But tonight… maybe Allesio was right. Maybe I could take a break, let myself breathe outside the world I’d built around myself. I took another sip, steadying myself, then nodded slightly at Allesio.
With an encouraging grin, he raised his glass. “Good. About time you let yourself be a person, Alaric.”
I didn’t respond, just set my glass down and made my way over to her. As I approached, she looked up, her eyes meeting mine with a hint of curiosity. “Hi, I’m Alaric,” I introduced with an easy grin.
“Serena,” she answered slowly. One of her friends nudged her and pink rose to her cheeks.
“I’d like to buy you a drink,” I said, hoping she’d say yes. Usually I didn’t go to meet the women, they always came to me and threw themselves at me. All I had to do was take my pick, but having to go to her myself was unnerving.
She looked like she was about to turn me down, but she just shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
She got up, taking her bag and walked with me to the bar. “It’s nice to meet you, Serena. You look-”
“Pleasing to the eyes,” she cut in with a laugh. “I know that already.”
She raked her eyes over me and pursed her lips. “You don’t seem like the kind that comes here often.”
“And you’d know that because?” I asked with a raised eyebrow as I settled myself on the bar stool.
“I’ve never seen you here,” she said.
“It’s my bar,” I answered her, smiling at the way her eyes went wide.
“Oh,” she murmured. “That’s…well I suppose anyone could walk in and say the bar is theirs anyways. What’s the proof?”
“I didn’t think I’d be needing to show you proof that I own the bar,” I replied, grinning at her nonetheless.
We placed our orders, and she took a sip from her drink. “You look so simple…you don’t look like you could own this highly sophisticated bar.”
“Oh yeah? What do you do?”
“I work 9 5. Human resources department. But I don’t particularly like the job. I just have to tolerate it. I suppose working at your bar would be nice.” She grinned.
“You think it’d be nice to leave a probably better paying job just to work in my bar?” I laughed, shaking my head.
The conversation continued like that, until she went straight to the point. “I know you didn’t come to me for a conversation, Ric.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, feigning ignorance but she just shot me a knowing look.
I grinned at her, dropping the facade. “Let’s go.”