~Marco~
The next day, I met Alessia for lunch near the office, hoping to probe more. She was distracted, checking her phone.
"Work stuff?" I asked, biting into a sandwich.
"Yeah," she said, sighing. "This audit's a nightmare. And Lorenzo's been… distant."
"Distant how?" I asked, keeping my tone casual.
She shrugged, poking at her salad. "He's stressed, keeps shutting me out. And then there's Clara, always around him."
"Sounds like you're not just his assistant." I raised an eyebrow and she froze, then forced a laugh.
"Don't be ridiculous, Marco. He is my boss and I'm just worried about him."
"If you say so, dear."
I let it go, while staring at her. If she was falling for Lorenzo, that complicated things. I needed her trust, not her heartbreak.
"Well, if you need a break, I'm here," I said, smiling. "We could grab drinks this weekend."
"Maybe," she said, her eyes softening. "Thanks, Marco."
