Amara shot him a withering look but stepped inside, knowing she had no choice but to see this through. But as the door closed and the car began to move, she silently vowed that Alessandro wouldn’t get away with this. She would make sure of it.
The ride was tense, the silence between them heavy and oppressive. Alessandro glanced at her from time to time, his gaze sharp, but Amara kept her eyes on the window, her mind already spinning with plans of how she would make him pay for this.
This isn’t over, she thought darkly, her fists clenched tightly in her lap. Not by a long shot.
After an hour on the road, the car slowed to a stop. Amara, who had been staring out the window, lost in her thoughts, glanced up as the vehicle pulled before a grand resort nestled between rolling hills.
The architecture was luxurious, sleek, and modern, but with a touch of traditional design that seemed to blend into the natural surroundings. The towering structure was undeniably the best resort for hot springs in the area.
Amara’s eyes narrowed slightly, the surprise showing briefly on her face.
Alessandro had actually chosen a decent place.
For a moment, she wondered if, despite everything, he still had some rational thought left in that head of his.
But her suspicion quickly returned.
This was Alessandro after all… nothing he did was ever straightforward, and it wouldn’t be a shock if she stumbled upon another client meeting, or worse, blood smeared on the polished marble of the hot springs.
Before her mind could wander further into darker thoughts, Alessandro’s smooth voice pulled her back to the present. “Let’s go,” he said simply, opening his door and stepping out of the car.
Amara followed, sliding out of the vehicle and glancing at the resort with lingering distrust. “What are we doing here today?” she asked, her voice sharp, refusing to mask the disappointment build over her number of experiences with him.
Alessandro closed his door and turned to her, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Relaxing, of course,” he replied, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
He took a step closer, and Amara instinctively stiffened as he invaded her personal space. She could feel his breath on her skin, hot and teasing.
His presence was overwhelming, and the air between them crackled with a tension she despised. Then, his voice lowered into a darker, more suggestive tone as he whispered, “But.. if you want to do something… more, we can do that too.”
Amara’s eyes narrowed into slits. Her fist clenched at her side. “You dare,” she warned, her voice dripping with threat.
Alessandro chuckled softly, leaning even closer. “Do you want me to dare, baby?”
She met his gaze, her own filled with icy fury. “Do you want to die, Alessandro?”
His laughter filled the space between them, low and unbothered by the edge in her words. “Relax, sweetheart, relax,” he said, stepping back with a smirk that infuriated her even more.
Amara’s retort was on the tip of her tongue, but before she could release it, Alessandro cut her off smoothly. “Tomorrow is your birthday,”
He said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “I thought it would be nice for you to relax, take a break before the big day.”
Amara eyed him warily. “I was pretty relaxed at home, actually.”
Alessandro smiled, though this time it was tinged with a bit of smugness. “But here’s different,” he said, gesturing to the resort.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Oh, and how exactly is it different?”
“You can’t have the same experience at home, sweetheart,” he replied, his tone so matter-of-fact that it grated against her already fragile patience. “Now, let’s get inside. You’ll see what I mean.”
Amara sighed, but there was no point in arguing. She had already been forced into this situation. “Fine,” she relented, her voice filled with reluctant acceptance.
They walked toward the entrance, the cool mountain breeze rustling through the trees surrounding the resort. Amara couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still off.
Alessandro may have planned this as some kind of peace offering, but with him, she never knew when the real Alessandro would surface..
The one who lived and thrived in the world of violence and deception.
As they entered the resort, the scent of fresh pine and lavender filled the air, designed to soothe even the most anxious of guests.
The lobby was grand, with polished floors that reflected the soft light from above and sprawling windows that offered breathtaking views of the place.
Everything about the place screamed tranquility, but Amara wasn’t fooled by the serene atmosphere.
Alessandro led them to the front desk, where a sharply dressed concierge greeted them with a smile that Amara found unsettling in its politeness. “Welcome, Mr. Romano, Ms. Moretti,” the man said, handing over the keys to their suite. Alessandro thanked him and turned to Amara with a grin.
“Let’s head up,” he said, gesturing toward the elevator.
Amara followed silently, her mind still working overtime, wondering what he was truly planning.
The elevator ride was short, and they were soon standing in front of their suite. Alessandro opened the door, and Amara stepped inside, her eyes immediately scanning the space for anything unusual. The suite was luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling windows, plush furniture, and a private balcony overlooking the hot springs. The air inside the room was warm, inviting, but Amara remained cautious.
“Impressed?” Alessandro asked, watching her closely.
Amara shrugged, keeping her guard up. “It’s nice,” she said flatly, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing she found the place beautiful.
Alessandro chuckled softly, tossing the keys onto the table and walking over to the large glass doors that led to the balcony. He pushed them open, letting in the crisp mountain air. “Go on, take a look,” he said, gesturing for her to join him outside.
Amara hesitated for a moment before stepping out onto the balcony. The view was stunning. The hot springs below shimmered in the fading afternoon light, steam rising from the water’s surface in lazy tendrils..
For a brief moment, she felt her tension ease, the natural beauty of the place soothing her frayed nerves.
But then Alessandro was there, standing close to her again, his presence breaking the fragile peace she had begun to feel.
“I knew you’d like it,” he said softly, his voice almost tender.
Amara didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on the horizon. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he had been right, even if just for a moment.
After a few minutes, Alessandro stepped back, giving her space. “There’s still more to see. Come on,” he said, motioning toward the door.
Reluctantly, Amara followed him back inside, her mind still whirring with suspicion. Alessandro led her down a private hallway to a spa area reserved exclusively for their suite.
The room was dimly lit, with candles flickering in every corner, casting long shadows on the walls. The scent of jasmine and sandalwood hung heavy in the air, mingling with the soft sound of trickling water from a small indoor fountain.
“Here’s where you can really relax,” Alessandro said, his voice low and teasing as he walked toward the private hot spring that was sectioned off just for them.
Amara stared at the steaming water, the mist rising in thin tendrils that curled around the edges of the stone bath. She couldn’t deny that it looked inviting, but something about Alessandro’s presence always set her on edge, making it impossible to fully relax.
“This was a lot of effort just to get me into a hot spring, don’t you think?” she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm as she turned to face him.
Alessandro’s eyes gleamed in the low light, his lips curving into a knowing smile. “Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to spend some time with you before your birthday. No strings attached.”
Amara scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Since when do you do anything without strings attached?”
He laughed softly, stepping closer. “You wound me, Amara. I’m just trying to give you a nice day before tomorrow. Is that so hard to believe?”