A Vicious Cycle

"Everything okay?" Gio probed when Gael caught up to him.

"Yeah. Let's just get this over with."

The hostess led them towards the last door of the hallway. It was a massive double door with two Morelli guards flanking on each side. Just as the hostess was about to approach the door, it opened from inside and a woman walked out of it. Lia.

She came out of the room startled when she almost bumped into Alessandro. Her gaze lowered quickly, not daring to look him in the eyes, then she stepped aside to give way to him. Alessandro only spared her a glance before he walked past her and entered the room.

Giovanni was momentarily stunned. He did not expect to see her here at all. It was as if she would constantly appear out of nowhere to remind him of her existence just when he tried so hard not to think about her. He caught her eyes when she glanced up, but then she immediately let go and walked away, brushing past his shoulder as she did.