94

94
Allesio’s POV
The smell of fresh coffee hit me as I entered the kitchen. Irene was already there, bustling around with her usual efficiency, her movements fluid and practiced as she diced vegetables and stirred something in a skillet. “Good morning,” she greeted me and I shot her a smile even though she wasn’t looking.
“Good morning,” I replied.
I poured myself a glass of orange juice, the cool tang of it refreshing after last night’s long, tense dinner. I hadn’t slept much, thoughts of Alaric’s plan and Rosa swirling in my head like a storm I couldn’t quite escape. Rosa, with her sharp tongue and the fire in her eyes, had occupied more of my thoughts than I cared to admit.
As if summoned by my thoughts, the door to the kitchen creaked open, and there she was. Rosa, her hair slightly mussed from sleep, wearing an oversized shirt that brushed just above her knees. She looked surprised to see me, but her expression quickly settled into a mask of indifference.
“Morning,” Irene chirped without looking up from her cutting board.
Rosa didn’t reply. She walked straight to the coffee machine, ignoring me completely. The air in the room seemed to tighten. I took a sip of my orange juice, watching her out of the corner of my eye as she poured herself a cup and leaned against the counter, her gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
“Good morning to you, too,” I said, breaking the silence.
Her eyes flicked to me briefly before she looked away again, pretending to be engrossed in her coffee. It was petty, and I should have left it alone, but something about her cold shoulder was too tempting to resist.
“You’re really not going to say anything?” I asked, leaning casually against the counter across from her.
“I don’t see the point,” she said coolly, her voice laced with irritation.
Irene glanced between us but wisely kept her focus on her cooking, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
“Alright,” I said, setting my glass down. “Let me guess. You’re mad because I was an ass last night.”
She raised an eyebrow, finally looking at me. “Ass is putting it mildly.”
“Fair enough.” I crossed my arms, trying to keep my tone light. “But, for the record, I wasn’t trying to be. I was just…surprised to see you here.”
“That much was obvious,” she shot back, her eyes narrowing. “You looked like you’d seen a ghost.”
“Can you blame me?” I asked, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “The last time I saw you, you disappeared before I woke up.”
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn’t respond, taking another sip of her coffee instead.
I took a step closer, lowering my voice. “Look, Rosa. I know I didn’t make the best impression yesterday. But this-” I gestured between us-“doesn’t have to be hostile. We’re both stuck here for now. Might as well make it bearable.”
She stared at me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she set her cup down on the counter and crossed her arms. “You think an apology and a little charm are going to fix everything?”
“Not everything,” I admitted. “But it’s a start.”
Her eyes narrowed, studying me like she was trying to decide whether I was worth the effort. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction.
“Fine,” she said, though her tone was far from forgiving. “But don’t think I’m going to forget how you acted last night.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said, raising my glass in a mock toast.
She rolled her eyes, but there was a faint hint of a smile on her lips. Progress, however small.
Irene cleared her throat, breaking the tension. “Breakfast is ready. You two want some?”
“Sure,” Rosa said, moving to take a seat at the kitchen island.
I grabbed a plate and handed it to her before taking one for myself. Irene had outdone herself, as usual-scrambled eggs, roasted tomatoes, and a side of crispy bacon.
We ate in silence for a while, the only sounds the clinking of cutlery and the faint hum of the refrigerator. But the silence wasn’t as heavy as before. It felt… easier, like a truce had been called, even if it was temporary.
“So,” I said after a while, breaking the quiet. “What’s the plan for today?”
She glanced up at me, surprised by the question. “Why do you care?”
“Just making conversation,” I said, shrugging. “You’re a guest here. Thought I’d be polite.”
She gave me a skeptical look but didn’t push the matter. “I’m spending the day with Emilia. Catching up.”
“Sounds nice,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
“And you?” she asked, surprising me again.
“Work,” I said simply. “There’s always something to do around here.”
She nodded, and we fell back into silence, but it felt different this time. Less strained.
As we finished our breakfast, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d made a small crack in her armor. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. Rosa was unlike anyone I’d ever met-fierce, guarded, and unapologetically herself. And despite the complications she brought, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t want her to leave anytime soon. She was interesting.
“I guess I’ll see you around,” I said as I got up from the stool and walked to the sink to wash my hands.
“Yeah probably,” she answered with a shrug, waving me off as she checked something on her phone while sipping her orange juice casually. But her shoulders were stiff like it had been since I had stepped into the kitchen. She was still wary of me. Or she just didn’t trust me. Or may e it was because she was hiding something and she was scared that I could already see through her.
She had nothing to worry about. Seeing through her was like seeing through absolute darkness. It wasn’t possible.
“You should probably take breakfast to Francesca today,” I said to Irene, taking one more look at Rosa before stepping out of the kitchen.