Aria
Aria shoved through the auditorium doors, immediately his speech ended, her mind spinning. She wasn't sure if she was breathing, she just wanted to disappear into the crowd of white coats before he will see her.
"Aria!"
She turned sharply, her beating fast. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Valentina jogging towards her, heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. Her lips were curved in a teasing grin, but her eyes searched Aria's face closely.
"I told you he'd come."
"I don't know why he's here. Let's get out of her fast." Aria said, dragging Valentina along.
As she turned to the front, her face slammed into a hard chest. She looked up, and saw Alessio sneering down at her. Up close, he was worse than memory. Taller than she remembered, broader, sharper around the edges. His scent hit her next—something clean and cold and expensive, something like wood.
"Aria." Her name on his lips was smoke. Low. Controlled. Dangerous.
"Mr. Moretti," she said, keeping her voice level, and her head low.
He cocked his head slightly, the barest hint of a smirk tugging at his mouth. "Hurrying somewhere?"
She didn't respond.Instead, she gripped her bag tighter, like it could protect her from him.
"You're not going to thank me for the inspirational speech?" he asked dryly.
"When did you start to give motivational speeches to medical students?"
"When the medical students include one person I'm interested in." He said smoothly.
Aria's breath hitched. The quiet confirmation that this was no coincidence. He hadn't shown up for the university on a whim, he'd shown up for her.
"What do you want?" she asked.
Alessio's eyes scanned her face like he was committing it to memory. "A conversation."
"We're having one."
"In private." He said, casting a glance at Valentina who was looking at the both of them speechless. Aria hesitated, looking back at Valentina. Alessio's presence overwhelmed her, she had even forgotten about her friend and the fact that they are still on school premises.
Her spine screamed no. Her father's life whispered yes.
Valentina touched her arm slightly. "Don't worry, I'll wait for you outside." She looked straight into Alessio's eyes. "My girl is in your hands, nothing must happen to her."
Alessio looked at her, amusement shining in his eyes. "Okay ma'am."
Valentina nodded and hugged Aria before walking away .
Alessio looked at Aria. "So, are we having that conversation?"
After a long moment, she nodded once.He led her to a quieter corridor near the back of the building—students didn't come here unless they were up to something bad.
When they stopped, he didn't speak at first. Just looked at her hard.
Aria straightened her back, and looked at him. " What do you want from me?"
"You're not afraid of me," he said.
She flinched. "Should I be?"
"That depends," Alessio murmured. "Do you recognise me from somewhere?"
"Why?" she whispered, hating the tremble in her voice.
Alessio leaned in, so close she felt the heat of his breath against her temple."Because something about you rings a bell. And you said you remember me."
Her fingers dug into her bag. "It was a slip of tongue."
He chuckled softly. "Why don't I believe you?"
"Let me go."
"See, that's the problem. I don't want to."
Aria looked up at him. Straight into those eyes that were sharp enough to slice lies in half.This wasn't part of the plan. He wasn't supposed to notice her, not like this. Not with interest. Curiosity was safe. But this? This felt personal.
"I will find out what you are hiding one way or another."Then he turned and walked away, his presence retreating like a storm on a leash.
Aria stood there long after he was gone, heart racing, lungs on fire.Because the man she was supposed to seduce was now looking at her like he was the predator.And she wasn't sure who was hunting who anymore.