Chapter 457 : Groundhog Day

*Giovani*

I stood behind my desk, staring out through the old, multi-paned window into the garden below, where I could see Dahlia and Olivia playing some sort of clapping game with Elio on a picnic blanket in the evening light.

Olivia missed a step intentionally, and Elio toppled backward, clearly overcome by giggles. A slow smile crept over my face, but it was tinged with frustration. I knew I should be down there with them, enjoying the time after dinner with my family. Instead, I was waiting up here to speak to Alessandro, who’d requested a moment to gather his thoughts.

I crossed my arms and turned away from the window. I didn’t know exactly what Alessandro wished to speak with me about, but the only reason he would have called a lunch meeting was if he wanted to keep it away from Olivia. We had a mostly open-door policy these days, but she rarely cared about my work this late in the evening.

A single, firm knock came on the door.