6

I was beginning to think it would be impossible to work as a nurse. With each application that got declined, my faith weakened. I had enough money to cater for my needs for the next five months but I couldn't find joy around me.

I needed more to be happy, I needed my job back as a nurse. Apart from the fact I obviously loved working at the hospital, part of Father's incurred debt was due to catering for my schooling expenses so I couldn't let him down by just accepting menial jobs without seeking for more.

Later that day, I was informed of a party happening in the evening. Before I could text Katrina with the intent of malingering, she beat me to the game. The thought of having to conquer another unknown experience made my heart beat faster and I had not fully recovered from my experience with Stefano. Heck, I didn't even want to think about what happened that night.

A sigh escaped my lips as my fingers hovered on the screen of my phone. I decided against not viewing the message and continued sending in job applications. Then my phone rang, disrupting what I was doing. My eyes darted towards the caller ID, It was Katrina. I took a deep breath, faked a smile as though she could see me and then picked up the call.

"Bella, hello." Katrina spoke, a background music filtering into the call.

"I hope you're doing great, hi." I greeted, the music growing indistinct.

"You didn't respond to my message, I figured you were busy. Do you by chance have a job elsewhere?"

"Uhm..." I stuttered, thinking of the best response to provide. "No."

"That makes you the most suitable candidate for this! Great great!" She said.

My eyes burrowed, I wish I could understand why she was merry over my joblessness.

Nonetheless, I didn't let my distaste seep into my tone. "Is there a reason you're this giddy, ma'am."

"Oh yes," she answered. "You know the guy from the other day?"

My heart picked up an irregular pace as my fingers became shaky on the phone. "Hmm..." I stuttered, adjusting the position of my phone —placing it in the small space between my shoulders and head. "Stefano?" I asked, as though I wasn't sure.

"Mr Stefano, yes. He seems to have taken an interest in you which is quite strange so I'll advise you to bask in it."

"Okay?" Anxiety rippled through me in waves, I needed to know where all these were heading to.

"He has requested that you escort him to a party tomorrow and he's offering $2000 plus an all expense paid trip."

"Wow." My lips quivered. I haven't left New York city in a long and without thinking, I knew I wouldn't let this offer pass me by. Firstly, any legal way to make money was very much appreciated by me at this point.

"So what do you say?" She asked.

"I am very much interested." I replied without hesitation. My stomach bubbling with excitement, aside from the money I would like to admit that I was a little too excited to see Stefano again regardless of how our last meeting ended.

"Great, check your texts when the call ends."

"Thank you!"

"Bella darling, I should be thanking you, I can't explain but I should be thanking you." Katrina expressed as though she had won a lottery, and my lips stressed into a smile and then it occurred to me that she was definitely getting her share of her deals with Stefano and my lips thinned.

"I have to prepare..."

"Great, Mr Stefano doesn't like tardiness. Make sure you are on your best behaviour, Bella." Katrina advised and ended the call before I could say anything.

I scanned through her texts and my eyes caught the location - Italy. My eyes blinked rapidly as if the letters would magically change and conjure into something else. I shared almost equal doses of bad and good memories there but overall it smelled like trouble with the circumstances which I left there. But I had nothing to worry about. I'd quickly serve as an escort and leave the moment the party ends with my cool cash.

Or could it ever be more than that? I liked to have a clue of what could happen even though the universe always finds ways to shock me. Maybe I should have asked the kind of party and the kind of people that would be in attendance but I doubted Katrina would have a clue. I should just let things play out in its way instead of planning and then ending up in situations that would entirely throw me off guard. I skipped to my wardrobe and tossed a few necessities into a bag and crashed on the sofa, eagerly anticipating the next day before I drifted into sleep.

-

As my flight landed in Italy, an overwhelming sense of foreboding filled me. The beautiful environment did not do much in calming my nerves. I took instructions from Katrina because I didn't have direct communication with Stefano, I wondered why.

Katrina had offered me that a man would be waiting for my arrival. As I stopped out the airplane, my foot dragged as I scanned for the man. As if on cue, as I rolled luggage with my one hand while the other hand was busy texting, a man appeared in front of me.

"Welcome to Italy." An unmistakable familiar Italian voice greeted me.

I swiftly raised my gaze. "Hi, Matteo." My lips stretched into a smile as he took off his glasses.

"Nice to meet you again." He handed over my luggage and led me to a limousine.

He offered to open the back seat door but I declined as I slided into the leather seat. The driver I had seen the other night drove off within seconds.

"Stefano asked me to accompany Romeo to pick you because he wanted you to be comfortable." Mattoe explained with a small smile and I wondered if Stefano had told him our escapade that night.

"Okay…" I responded. In the next few we drove in silence as beads of sweat pooled on my forehead due to my anxiety. I tried to focus on the tall buildings and fleet of cars that drove to and fro but my mind wouldn't stop wandering to different directions.

Soon, the car halted in front of a tall steel gate.

"We're here." Matteo said and my heart raced and as I came down from the car, I felt my legs wobble.