"Your house is very clean."
"That sounds more like an accusation."
"It wasn't meant to be."
Alaric almost smirked at her words but stopped himself from doing so.
The penthouse suddenly felt strangely smaller with another person inside it. Not physically. Just… aware of an unwanted presence.
Alaric cleared his throat lightly before gesturing toward the hallway. "Come on. I'll show you the room you can use."
Elena nodded immediately and followed after him… too obediently.
As they walked through the penthouse, Alaric explained things absentmindedly, more out of necessity than hospitality.
"The kitchen's there. Clara keeps invading it whenever she visits, so if something sweet randomly disappears, it's probably her."
Elena glanced toward the modern kitchen briefly before looking back ahead quietly.
"The guest rooms are on this side," he continued. "My office is downstairs. Don't enter it unless the building's literally on fire."
"That serious?"
"Yes."
