CLAIRE

An hour later, I emerged from my room after finishing the call with Nina.

The smell of garlic and herbs filled the penthouse, making my stomach growl. I walked into the kitchen to find Julian plating pasta with what looked like a homemade tomato sauce.

"That smells amazing," I said, sitting down at the counter.

"It's just pasta," Julian replied, setting a plate in front of me. "Nothing fancy."

I picked up my fork and took a bite, the flavors rich and satisfying. "This is really good," I said honestly. "When did you learn to make sauce from scratch?"

"YouTube," Julian admitted with a slight smile. "I got tired...