ALineHeCrossed
1192 Words
Alessandro arrived at the club just past noon.
The place was unusually quiet, stripped of its usual chaos, the lights dimmed, and the music was low. He didn’t spare the entrance a second glance as he walked straight into the VIP lounge, his presence alone enough to make a few staff around stiffen.
A waitress approached nervously.
“Good afternoon, sir. What would you like to have?”
“I want Elena,” Alessandro said flatly without looking at the waitress.
The waitress blinked. “Elena hasn’t resumed yet, sir. It’s still noon.”
His jaw tightened. “Leave then.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. She hurried out of the VIP and went straight to Noah.
“Mr. Alessandro is here,” she whispered urgently. “And he’s asking for Elena.”
Noah felt a knot tighten in his chest, but he kept his voice steady. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
He walked into VIP, posture calm but alert.
“What do you want?” Noah asked.
Alessandro lifted his gaze slowly. “I want Elena.”
Noah held his ground. “Do you want her to serve you, or do you want her for something else?”
That did it.
Alessandro stood up sharply. “Are you out of your mind?”
“I’m not,” Noah replied evenly. Elena is my friend. I’ve noticed how uncomfortable she is around you. She’s been through a lot. The least you can do is be a gentleman and let her be.”
For a split second, the room went deathly silent.
“One more word from you and your job is gone,” Alessandro said coldly.
He shouted, “Get the f**k out!”
Noah left without another word, but Alessandro watched him go, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Who the hell is he to Elena...friend or something more?
The thought of Noah being Elena’s boyfriend stirred something sharp and unfamiliar in his chest. Annoyance, possessiveness, jealousy—though he refused to acknowledge that he feels that way.
He decided to leave and return later.
Just as he stood up, his phone rang.
“Yes?” he said curtly.
“We spotted the girl,” one of his men reported.
“She just entered North Precinct Hospital.”
Alessandro's expression hardened.
He ended the call immediately and left the club without a backward glance, his car speeding toward the hospital as unease settled deep in his chest.
He got to the hospital in less than ten minutes. He drove to the parking lot but didn’t step out of his car.
He parked at the far end of the parking lot, engine still running, eyes fixed on the hospital entrance. Moments later, the man who had called him earlier walked up to the driver’s side window.” What is she doing here?” Alessandro asked quietly. “Is she okay?”
“From what I’ve gathered,” the man replied, lowering his voice, “her mother is sick. She has cancer, and she’s undergoing chemotherapy. Elena comes here almost every day to check on her.”
Something twisted painfully in Alessandro’s chest.
Before he could say anything else, he noticed a familiar figure in his rearview mirror. It was Elena stepping out of the hospital’s building.
She walked slowly, like her body was carrying more weight than it should. Instead of heading straight out, she moved towards an empty spot near the parking lot and stopped. She lowered herself onto the curb, burning her face in her palms.
“She’s crying,” Alessandro muttered.
He stepped out of the car and asked the man to leave. The man nodded and walked away.
Alessandro approached quietly. Elena didn’t notice him at all. Her shoulders shook as sobs escaped her, raw and unguarded.
He reached her and tapped her lightly.
She startled violently. “Jesus…”
“I’m sorry,” he said immediately. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She wiped her face roughly and looked up at him, eyes red and swollen. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. “Are you stalking me now?”
“No,” he said quickly. “I came to visit someone. I just… saw you.”
She scoffed, clearly not convinced.” Please just leave me alone. I want to be by myself.”
He didn’t move.
Instead, he reached into his jacket and brought out her phone.
Her eyes widened. “My phone?”
“It was found,” he said. “My men picked it up.”
She took it slowly, like she didn’t trust it to be real. “Thank you.”
There was a brief silence.
“What’s wrong?” he asked softly.
“That’s none of your business,” she snapped, standing up. “You should stop bothering me. I don’t want you interfering in my life. My life is already a mess. Don’t add to it.”
The words hit harder than Alessandro expected.
He watched her face crumble as tears welled again. Without thinking, he lifted his hand to wipe her tears.
That was all it took.
Elena broke down completely.
She collapsed against him, sobbing, fists clutching his shirt as if it were the only thing keeping her upright. Alessandro froze for half a second, then wrapped his arms around her, holding her without saying a word.
“My mom isn’t getting better,” she cried. “The treatment isn’t working. The cancer keeps spreading. I don’t want her to die…she’s all I have.”
He said nothing. He just held her tighter and let her cry.
After a while, her sobs slowed. Reality seemed to rush back all at once.
She pulled away abruptly. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly, stepping back. “I shouldn’t have.“
She turned to leave.
Alessandro reached out, grabbed her arm gently, and spun her around—
And kissed her.
The moment was brief. Shocked.
Elena shoved him away instantly and slapped him hard across the face.
Alessandro didn’t react with anger. He just stood there, stunned—more at himself than the slap.
“Stay away from me,” Elena said firmly, voice shaking but resolute. “Don’t ever do that again.”
Then she walked away without looking back.
When she was out of sight, Alessandro slammed his feet on his car.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he muttered to himself.
He had crossed a line. He knew it. For the first time in his life, he wanted to take something back.
Why is she different? He wondered bitterly.
He got into his car and drove off, faster than necessary. Elena’s tear-stained face burned into his mind.
And no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just made things worse.
He drove aimlessly for a long time.
Elena’s face kept replaying in his mind—her tears, her voice breaking, the way she had looked at him after the kiss. Not desire. Not longing. Just confusion.
He slammed his hand against the steering wheel.he had crossed a line he never knew existed.
- Writer
