CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ONE – CAN YOU FEEL THE CHEMISTRY IN THE AIR

Joan's pen froze mid-sentence. She looked up, meeting his intense stare. "I... I'm not sure I understand," she stammered. Alessandro leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I think you do, Joan. I've been thinking about you. About us." Joan's heart raced. She tried to maintain her professional composure. "Mr. Fratelli, I think we need to refocus on-" "Alessandro," he interrupted. "Please, call me Alessandro." Joan took a deep breath. "Alessandro, I appreciate your honesty, but we need to maintain a professional relationship. Perhaps we should discuss why you're having these thoughts about your therapist." Alessandro stood up, moving to sit on the edge of her desk. Joan's breath caught in her throat as he reached out and took her hand. "Joan," he said softly, "I think we both know this is more than just therapist and patient." Joan's mind screamed at her to pull away, to assert her professional boundaries, but her body refused to cooperate. She found herself mesmerized