Mine alone

(…) “I want you out of my room because I despise you. The only thing I could possibly feel for you is hate.”

Such a terrible liar.

Giovanni is in his office, drinking a strong, bitter cup of coffee. He's thinking straight for the first time since he got on the plane and came to Eleonor as if the world were about to end. When did he become so impulsive? He can hardly recognize himself.

He knows he shouldn't have spent the night with her, but he needed this. A single time was enough to make him long for her in his arms for the rest of his life. He would probably give anything to make it possible.

Giovanni is scratching his unshaven beard when he hears a knock at the door. He doesn't feel any hope in his chest because he knows that Eleonor won't come to find him any soon. When the door opens without waiting for an answer, he knows who it is. He doesn't have to look away from the blue sky and the forest at the back of the property to know that Asher is approaching.

“Did you know, Asher? T