Page 19 of Doll's Eye

It’s inherent for us to keep our emotions far from the surface, and I know that since Alessia is a female trying to be seen for more than just her body as a vessel, she feels as if she has to try even harder. She’s risen to prominence through her own efforts, but her irascible temper is a strong emotion she must learn to conquer.

Making my presence known, I walk into the room, and Alessia and Monte stop mid-conversation. “Massimo. I was beginning to think we would never cross paths here.” She comes to me and kisses me softly on either of my cheeks, her ambrosial scent surrounding me.

“I know I haven’t been able to see you settled in, but I’m hoping you could spare one evening to have dinner with me.” There’s a slight bite to my tone. Almost feeling jealous of her family for getting all her time.

“I suppose I could spare one night,” she says cheekily and goes to sit back down on the loveseat she was occupying. “Since I haven’t been given anything to do, I get a little stir-crazy. It can get quite lonely in a big place like this with no one to talk to.Other than my trusty guard dog,” she muses, looking at Monte, and he chuckles. The playfulness they seem to already have with one another slightly irks me.

“I thought you’d like time to settle in first.”

“I’m settled.”

“Good, then we can discuss more over dinner tonight.”

“Very well then.”

My feet are rooted to the floor as she stares back at me. Waiting for me to say something else. Daring me to. Now that I’m here with her, I don’t want to leave yet. This is my first conversation with her in days, and I’m at a loss for words.

“I have to go meet with my father, and then I have to run out for a while.”

“Sure.” She opens her book and looks down at it. As if dismissing me, and I, for some reason, want her attention back.

“Would you like to go with me?” Her head snaps up, and I elaborate. “Out, that is.” I won’t force Alessia to deal with my father’s company if she doesn’t have to. She deserves respect, and my father refuses to acknowledge that.

Her eyes dance with curiosity. “And where will we be going?”

“Out,” I state vaguely.

“And what kind of attire would this outing require?”

“Nothing you wouldn’t want to get ruined,” I muse, though she’ll only be there as a spectator.

Her eyes squint in devious appeasement. “Hmm. Okay then. I’ll go change and be waiting for you.”

“I’ll come find you when it’s time to leave.”

“Sounds good.”

Heading to my father’s office, I think about Alessia. The way she always presents herself and the confidence she emanates. Dignity and esteem glowing from the inside out making her come off solipsistic, but so secure in it that it makes everyone else a believer.

My father and I don’t work side by side like we used to. We haven’t worked in the same room in probably a decade or so. He leaves specific duties and responsibilities to me, which I execute independently. We meet a few times a week, but typically, we work separately. I even have my own businesses that he is not a part of.

Even though it had hardly been ten minutes spent with him, I still feel a pounding in my head, which I always get whenever he’s around. If it weren’t for the customary succession we all abide by, I would have ventured out on my own years ago. Breaking from my father completely.

“Entra!”Enter! Alessia calls out when I knock on her bedroom door.

I walk in to find her perched on the edge of her bed, pulling on a pair of boots that come up to her knees. She switched her pretty dress out for another pretty one, yet less vibrant. “Should I be packing?” she asks with one eyebrow hitched.

“If it makes you feel better but isn’t necessary.” I’m unsure if it was a test, but she stares at me for a long moment, then shrugs her shoulders and goes over to her dresser to pick up her Glock. She checks the chamber and then the safety before tucking it into her thigh holster. I drink in the olive skin there that looks smooth to the touch, anxious to mark it up.

Dropping her dress down, she grabs a light jacket and comes to stand in front of me. “Alright, I’m ready.” Her ethereal smile is indeed deceptive.

“What about you?” she asks, looking at my suit as we head downstairs.

“I don’t have any attachments to this suit.” My suit evokes a sense of functional uniformity.

We slide into the backseat, and it feels natural to be with her as if we’ve been doing this for so long. Whenever we speak, it isn’t to fill the silence. And when we’re silent, it’s comfortable.

“So, since my trainer isn’t able to come here to train me, I need a new one,” she says as we pull away from the estate.

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