"What did you have in mind?"
"Does the pool still work?"
He blinks, clearly not expecting that. "Yes. It's heated, maintained. Do you want to swim?"
"I want to see if I can be around you doing something normal without everything being about power and control." I cross my arms. "Think you can manage that?"
"I can try."
"No trying. Either you can do normal or you can't. If you can't, I'll go back upstairs and we'll pretend this conversation didn't happen."
Something flickers in his expression, hurt, maybe, or frustration. But he nods. "I can do normal."
"Meet me at the pool in twenty minutes. And Renato?"
"Yes?"
"If you try to turn this into some kind of moment to discuss our relationship, I'll disappear. Permanently. Understood?"
"Understood."
I change into one of the swimsuits from the wardrobe, a simple black one-piece that's elegant without being seductive. Everything in this house is chosen so carefully, designed to present a specific image. I wonder if Renato even owns anything that isn't calculated.
The pool area is as beautiful as everything else about the villa with an infinity edge overlooking the lake, expensive stone, tasteful landscaping. But it's also empty, unused, like a movie set.
He's already there when I arrive, sitting in one of the lounge chairs wearing simple swim shorts. No designer labels visible, no obvious displays of wealth. Just a man who looks like he hasn't slept in days, waiting to see what I want from him.
"Nice shorts," I say, because the silence feels dangerous.
"Thanks. They're five years old."
"You own five-year-old clothing? I'm shocked."
"I keep some things that aren't about image." He glances at me, then quickly away. "You look... comfortable."
"I am comfortable. Which is weird, considering." I walk to the pool edge, testing the water temperature with my toe. "When did you last swim here?"
"I don't swim here."
"You have a pool you don't use?"
"I have a lot of things I don't use. It came with the house."
"You bought a house for the pool you don't use?"
"I bought a house for the security and the isolation. The pool was included."
I dive in before I can think too much about it. The water is perfect, warm but not hot, chlorinated but not harsh. I swim a few laps, letting the physical movement clear my head.
Normal.
This is what normal feels like. Moving my body because I want to, not because someone is evaluating my fitness or conditioning my responses.
When I surface at the shallow end, he's still sitting in his chair, watching but trying not to look like he's watching.
"Are you coming in, or are you just going to sit there being weird about it?"
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
