Chapter 12 Chapter 12.

Chapter 12 Chapter 12.
The morning rose, casting its light into the room and flashing it on Aria who laid carelessly on the bed in a crowd of folders, documents, pictures and papers. A pen still in her hand, a folder on her head, and a paper right under the pen she was holding.

A knock came on the door, jolting her awake. "Who's it?" She asked in a ragged voice.

"Francesca. You're needed downstairs right now." Came the voice on the other side.

Aria rolled her eyes. "Coming."

"And be sporty," Francesca added.

"Fine," Aria replied and she began hearing Francesca's receding footsteps in the hallway.

Aria groaned as she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She looked around the room, taking in the mess of papers and documents that surrounded her. She had been up late studying, trying to learn as much as she could about Marius and his operations.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching her arms over her head. She yawned, feeling a bit stiff from sleeping in an awkward position.

Aria made her way to the bathroom to freshen up. She splashed some water on her face and brushed her hair, trying to look presentable.

As she was getting ready, she wondered what Lucien wanted with her. She hadn't seen him since their encounter in the dining room the night before, and she wasn't sure what to expect.

When she was satisfied with her appearance—a pink jogger suit, Aria headed downstairs. She followed the sound of voices to the study, where she found Lucien sitting behind his desk. Francesca was standing beside him, looking stern as usual.

"Good morning," Lucien said, looking up at Aria. "I trust you slept well?"

Aria nodded, taking a seat in the chair opposite Lucien's desk. "I did," she said. "What's this about?"

Lucien smiled, leaning back in his chair. “I’m glad to hear that, because today, we’re going to add a bit of excitement to your routine.” 

He glanced at Francesca, who straightened her posture and crossed her arms, an unreadable expression on her face.

“What do you mean?” Aria asked, brows furrowing with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.

Lucien’s smile broadened as he continued, “I think it’s time for you to engage in some physical exercise. It’ll help sharpen your mind and keep you alert. And to ensure you get the most out of it…” He paused for dramatic effect. “Francesca will be your coach.”

Aria's eyes widened, the enthusiasm sliding off her face like ice melting in the sun. “Exercise?” she echoed, disbelief creeping into her voice. “You can’t be serious.”

Lucien leaned forward, hands clasped together. “I am serious, Aria. You can’t rely solely on books and information. Physical fitness is just as crucial. And Francesca here has been waiting to put her coaching skills to the test.”

Francesca nodded, a faint smirk on her lips. “Don’t worry, Aria. I promise I’ll make it worth your while. But you’ll have to give it your all. We’re not taking any shortcuts,” she said. But Aria knew exactly what was lying in her tone, and it wasn't something pleasant 

Aria groaned internally, the prospect of a workout with Francesca suddenly sounding more like a punishment than any sort of enlightening experience. “No, thank you. I'll pass.” 

“You don't have a choice,” Lucien replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. 

She felt frustration building up inside her but she forced herself to remain calm. “Hey, I'm already fit enough for whatever I need my body for, so I'm really gonna pass. ”

Lucien chuckled lightly, seeming amused by her resistance. “Really?” He smirked. "Put Francesca on her ass and I'll dissolve this," he demanded and Aria's eyes widened.

"Hell I'll even make you her trainer," he added with a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips.

Francesca, who had been silently observing, nodded in agreement, flashing Aria an infuriating smirk herself. 

Aria's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the implications of Lucien's words. Crumbling her self pride was one thing, getting embarrassed and humiliated was another thing. "When does the exercise end?" she asked, her voice firm.

Lucien's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I thought you'd never ask," he said. "Francesca, take Aria to the gym and let's see to bringing out a perfect woman."

Francesca nodded, her smirk growing wider. "Follow me," she said, turning to lead Aria out of the study.

Aria followed, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that this was going to be a challenge, but she was ready. She followed Francesca out of the study, her eyes fixed on the other woman's back.

Francesca led the way to a set of double doors, which she pushed open with an air of authority. The gym was sprawling and well-equipped, with an assortment of high-end equipment lining the walls—treadmills, weights, and even a boxing ring in one corner. Bright, natural light streamed in through the large windows, illuminating the wooden floors with an energizing glow. Aria’s apprehension grew; this was no ordinary gym session.

“Here we are,” Francesca announced, glancing back with a smug grin. “Welcome to your new battlefield.”

Aria tried to suppress a sigh, knowing she was stepping into the unknown. “Right… battlefield,” she echoed dryly, crossing her arms. 

“Let’s get started!” Francesca clapped her hands together with exaggerated enthusiasm. “I want to see how you handle basic warm-ups first. Let’s start with jumping jacks. You can’t warm up your body without getting your heart rate up, or did you forget that in your late-night study sessions?”

Ignoring her, Aria stepped into position. She began the exercise, though each jump felt like a betrayal of her still-sleepy body.

“Higher! Come on, I can see you barely moving,” Francesca said, her voice cutting through Aria’s concentration like a knife. “You’re supposed to be sporty, not soggy.”

With each passing moment, frustration simmered just below the surface for Aria. The cadence of her jumps was steady, but it lacked the enthusiasm Francesca seemed to crave—no, unpleasantly demanded. Aria felt less like an athlete in training and more like a hapless target for Francesca's ire. She tired quickly, pausing after a short set, her breath coming in heaves as she tried to regain her composure.

“Did I say stop?” Francesca barked, hands planted firmly on her hips, glaring at Aria with an intensity that made her skin prickle. “If you want to stand beside Mr. Moretti, you’d better be worth it.”

Aria shot back, trying to keep her composure under Francesca's scrutiny. “I never asked to stand beside Lucien, so please save me the stress.” With that, she turned on her heel, ready to leave the gym for good.

“Wait.” Francesca’s voice sliced through the air, calm yet commanding. “What do you think you are, standing beside Mr. Moretti? Something important?”

“Absolutely,” Aria replied, pivoting defiantly to face her again. “That very important thing keeping you worked up since you set eyes on me,” she smirked, letting a hint of mischief flicker in her gaze. With an air of arrogance, she turned again, striding toward the door.