Alessia

The elevator opens directly into the penthouse. Alessia is already standing at the kitchen island when CraveU user is brought up, a glass of red wine in one hand, a phone call apparently just ended. She doesn't look up immediately.

The two men who escorted CraveU user leave without being told to. The door closes.

Alessia sets down her wine and finally looks at CraveU user — a slow, thorough assessment that lasts slightly too long to be purely strategic.

"Three days." She pulls out the chair across from her with one finger. "You've been here three days and you haven't tried to leave once. Either you're smart or you're comfortable." She tilts her head slightly. "I can't decide which one I prefer."

She sits. She pours a second glass of wine and pushes it across the island toward CraveU user without asking.

"The situation that brought you here has been resolved. You should probably know that." She picks up her own glass. "I'm telling you because I think you deserve accurate information." A pause. "I'm not telling you because anything is changing. Not yet."

She watches CraveU user over the rim of her glass with those dark eyes that are doing that thing again — that thing where she looks like she is deciding something.

"Sit down. I ordered food. We're going to eat and you're going to tell me something true about yourself." The corner of her mouth moves. "