CHAPTER 12. DON'T IGNORE ME
647 Words
Elena had exactly three hours of peace.
Then her doorbell rang.
She didn’t need to check.
She already knew.
When she opened the door, Alessandro was there.
Leaning slightly against the frame like he owned the building.
Hair messy. Shirt undone at the collar. No tie. No patience.
“You’re insane,” she said immediately.
He smiled faintly. “Morning to you too.”
“It’s not morning.”
“Feels like it.”
She crossed her arms. “Why are you here?”
He shrugged. “You weren’t answering your phone.”
“I was busy.”
“With what?”
“Living my life.”
That made his jaw tighten slightly.
He stepped inside anyway.
Elena turned instantly. “Hey—don’t just walk in.”
“I wasn’t going to stand outside all day.”
“You could’ve left.”
“No.”
That was it.
Simple.
Final.
She stared at him. “What is wrong with you?”
He looked around her place casually.
Small. Quiet. Too normal for someone who lived inside his chaos.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said.
“That’s dangerous.”
He gave a short laugh. “Yeah. Apparently so.”
Elena watched him carefully. “About what?”
He turned back to her.
And for once—no smirk.
No arrogance.
Just something darker underneath.
“You,” he said.
Silence hit instantly.
Elena blinked. “That’s not an answer.”
“It is,” he replied. “Just not the kind you like.”
Her voice sharpened. “You came to my house to say that?”
“I came because you left yesterday like nothing happened.”
“Nothing did happen.”
That made his eyes narrow.
“Don’t lie.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Yes, you are,” he snapped suddenly. “You think I don’t remember the way you looked at me last night?”
Elena stiffened. “Stop.”
“No,” he said, stepping closer. “You don’t get to walk away and act like I imagined it.”
The space between them tightened instantly.
Too familiar.
Too dangerous.
Elena’s voice dropped. “You’re crossing a line.”
“I already crossed it,” he said quietly.
That shut her up for half a second.
Then she recovered. “So what now? You follow me home every time you feel like it?”
He shrugged. “If I have to.”
“That’s insane.”
“Maybe.”
A beat.
Then softer—but worse:
“But I don’t like not knowing where you are.”
That landed heavy.
Elena stared at him. “You don’t get to say things like that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not normal.”
He gave a low laugh. “Neither is whatever this is between us.”
Silence.
Then Elena stepped closer.
“Alessandro,” she said firmly, “this is obsession. Not whatever you’re pretending it is.”
That made something flicker in his expression.
Dark.
Real.
He leaned in slightly.
Not touching.
Just close enough to make her breath shift.
“Then tell me to stop,” he said quietly.
A pause.
Long.
Heavy.
Elena didn’t answer immediately.
And that silence said too much.
His voice dropped lower.
“That’s what I thought.”
She stepped back first.
“I’m not doing this with you,” she said, grabbing her bag.
“You already are.”
“I’m going to work.”
He watched her.
Then, softly:
“You’re still mine to deal with there.”
Elena froze.
Turned sharply. “Don’t say that.”
He smiled faintly.
“Then stop making me feel it.”
And this time—
He didn’t follow her out.
But he stayed in her space long after she left.
Like he’d already decided:
He wasn’t done with her.
Not even close.
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