The sleek, modern apartment, with its crisp white walls and meticulously arranged decor, embodied a minimalist aesthetic that conveyed a sense of clean-lined simplicity.
A sprinkling of muted, monochromatic artworks added a subtle air of refinement, while the soft hum of the air conditioning created a serene atmosphere.
The living room was flawless, its décor reflecting Giovanni's keen eye for detail and passion for precision.
Salomé stood in the center of the room, her eyes fixed on the floor as the fire alarm continued to blare in the background and the sound of sirens echoed outside.
Her soot-covered clothes and disheveled hair were a stark contrast to the apartment's immaculate state. Suddenly, the alarm fell silent, and the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway.
The firefighters quickly got to work, extinguishing the last of the flames and ventilating the smoke in Salomé's apartment.
Giovanni's gaze never left Salomé. "You were trying to cook," he stated, his voice laced with a hint of accusation. "For the first time. Without an adult's supervision."
Salomé's eyes flashed with defensiveness. "What do you mean by that? I'm an adult myself. I could've handled it well, if only..." Her voice trailed off, her eyes dropping in embarrassment.
"If only...what?" Giovanni's voice was calm, but his words were laced with a hint of reproof.
Salomé remained silent, her shoulders slightly slumped in defeat. Giovanni's gaze lingered on her, his expression unyielding.
"And what were you trying to cook, exactly?" he asked.
Salomé hesitated, her eyes flicking up to Giovanni's. "I-I was trying to make...egg-fried noodles."
Giovanni's expression remained neutral, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "Using my cooking utensils?" His voice was incredulous.
Salomé's face reddened. "I followed the instructions in your cookbook step by step. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Giovanni let out a weary sigh, sinking into the couch as if all energy had been drained from him. The room fell silent, the sole sound being the gentle whir of the air conditioning.
Suddenly, Salomé's gaze snapped up to meet Giovanni's, her eyes wide with a desperate plea. "Could you please not tell my dad—"
"Oh, he's aware," Giovanni replied, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.
Salomé's eyes widened in alarm, but before she could respond, the sound of the door bursting open echoed through the living room.
Dominic stormed into the apartment, his expression enraged, his eyes blazing with anger. Marco trailed behind, exchanging a silent nod with Giovanni, who stood up to acknowledge him in return.
Salomé stood frozen on the spot, her soot-covered body a testament to the kitchen explosion, her hair disheveled, her eyes wide with shock. Dominic's eyes landed on his daughter, and he exploded.
"Salomé Oakley Rutledge, what in the world were you thinking?!" his voice thundered.
Salomé's face crumpled, and she scurried to hide behind Giovanni, her trembling fingers twisting the hem of his shirt.
"Daddy, please don't say my full name in front of others," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Marco tried hard to control his laughter. His friend's daughter was just too cute. Of all things to be concerned about, it was her full name being called out.
He placed a restraining hand on Dominic's arm. "Calm down, buddy. She wasn't hurt. It was a mistake, alright?"
Dominic took a deep breath, his voice still shaking with emotion. "What even made you think you could try cooking? Of all things!"
Salomé's face scrunched up, but she kept silent.
Dominic sighed heavily. "Considering you just moved in today—and I emphasize, today—where do you plan on staying? Now that you've 'redecorated' your apartment."
Marco spoke up, his voice calm and measured. "Our trip back to the US tomorrow can't wait, so how about Salomé stays here with Giovanni until her place is fixed? Is that fine by you?"
Salomé opened her mouth to protest, her eyes flashing with a hint of rebellion, but Dominic shot her a stern glance, silencing her. "Yeah, that could work. If Giovanni is okay with it, that is."
Dominic glanced at Giovanni, who nodded subtly, a fleeting smile crossing his face before vanishing into a neutral expression.
"That's settled then," Marco said, clapping his hands together. "Boy, would you show Salomé the bathroom so she can get cleaned up?"
Giovanni nodded and glanced over his shoulder at the girl. "Follow me."
Salomé trailed behind Giovanni, her eyes fixed on his back as he led her to the bathroom.
The door swung open, revealing a sleek, modern space with a walk-in shower and a large, wall-mounted mirror.
"Clean towels are in the cabinet," Giovanni said. "Help yourself."
Salomé nodded, her eyes scanning the bathroom as Giovanni turned to leave. "Uhm..." she called out, her voice hesitant.
He paused, his hand on the doorknob. "You need anything else?"
Salomé's eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just wanted to say thank you."
Giovanni's expression remained neutral, but his eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. "You're welcome," he replied, his eyes lingering on Salomé for a moment before he stepped out of the bathroom, leaving her alone.