The sound of Isabella's heels echoed through the company lobby, but the noise was muffled by the weight on her chest. Since the night before, the note and the flowers had been on her mind. Every time she remembered the written words, her skin crawled.
As soon as she reached the room, Alexander was at her desk, reviewing reports. He looked up, immediately noticing her troubled expression.
"Isabella? What's wrong? You seem... different today."
She hesitated for a second, biting her lip, before finally approaching.
"Alexander, I need to ask you something."
He set the papers aside and crossed his arms, attentive.
"Of course. You can tell me."
"Yesterday, when I got home..." Her voice trailed off, but she continued. "I found flowers on my bed. And there was a note."
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean? Flowers on your bed?"
Isabella nodded, her throat feeling dry.
"Yes. Red roses. And the note said: "To the woman who lights up even the darkness." She took a deep breath. "But the door wasn't broken down, there was no sign of a break-in. But someone was there, Alexander. Someone entered my apartment without me noticing."
He stood up, walking toward her. His tone firm but protective.
"Isabella, this is serious. You should have called me right away."
"I… I was in shock," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I still am. It's scary to think someone invaded my space, my home… without me noticing."
Alexander put his hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her.
"Listen, you're safe now. Let's figure this out. But I need to know: do you suspect anyone?"
She looked away, but the answer was already clear in her mind.
"Yesterday, before all this… Dante showed up at the café. He recognized me." He provoked me." She paused, staring at Alexander. "And now these flowers, this note… Who else could it be?"
Alexander's expression hardened.
"Dante…" The name came out like venom in his mouth. "It makes perfect sense. It's his kind of move. Entering a place that isn't his, overstepping boundaries… He doesn't measure the consequences."
Isabella hugged herself, feeling goosebumps rise on her skin.
"I knew it… it has to be him."
Alexander gently grabbed her arm.
"Isabella, listen. If it was him, I'll find out. I won't allow this man to invade your life like this."
She sighed, leaning into his strength.
"But what if it's not? What if it's someone else?"
A heavy silence filled the room. Alexander didn't respond immediately. His eyes wandered for a moment, as if calculating possibilities he didn't dare say aloud.
Finally, he caressed her hand, as if promising protection.
"It doesn't matter who it is. The important thing is that I'll be by your side."
Isabella took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. But even with his words, the discomfort didn't disappear.
It was as if, with every passing minute, the note whispered in her mind.
At the end of the day, alone, Isabella looked out the office window. The city glowed with its nighttime lights, but none of it comforted her.
"Could it really have been Dante?"
Suddenly, a shadow appeared, reflected in the window glass behind her. Isabella turned quickly… but there was no one.
Her heart raced.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Maybe, just maybe… Dante wasn't the only player in this dark game.