this client. And you’ll be staying with him for three to four months.” “The tomonda led posped
“What’s the problem he asked as it she had just screamed.
“Three to four months away from work! is that even pouble
“Don’t worry. He’take care of everything–transportation, accommodation, protection, eds. You’ll be capable hands,” perry said, taking a long dragon his cigar and blowing a cloud of smoke that led the room with a thick pangenth.
“If you say,” Irabel replied, fanning away the stoke an subtly as poochile.
“It’s not if I say sa do says, which means it’s happening lande god of this new Understand
petir E. A Business. The
2/26
“only,” she thought to herself, stifling a smick
“Even if I’m covering a story for some rich giry, can at least know where I’m going?”
“I’ll send you all the details Pack up your essentials–you’re leading tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? That’s way too soon.”
“Nothing’s too soon when it’s a matter of destiny and work, Isabel. Now, I need to take this call. Get ready for your trip,” he said, dismissing her with a wave of his hand as his phone rang agan
She left the office, still processing the conversation, as she walked back to her desk. Her mind raced with questions swirling around the oddity of the situation. Who was this mysterious client? And why her, of all people?
Mimi looked up at her expectantly, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“It seems I’m going on a trip,” Isabel replied, still bewildered.
“I can’t tell if you’re happy or upset. Should I congratulate you or console you?” Mimi asked with a grin.
“Honestly, I can’t tell how feel either. I guess I’ll find out as I go along”
“Well, whenever you figure it out, you know what to do,” Mimi replied, gesturing to Isabel to keep her updated.
Isabel quickly set out to pack a few things from her office. This was her first business trip–and as far as she knew, not many people from the office ever got to go on trips for coverage. It almost never happened, especially for someone with her limited experience. Who could have invited her? Mr. Harold? Or maybe that older man who’d made a pass at
her the other night?
On her way home, her phone chimed with a new email. She opened it to find a message from Jacob with all the trip details.
She was to be at the airport by nine o’clock in the morning, with everything already paid for. First class, even
She marveled at the lury she’d never imagined for herself, not at this stage in her career. As she read through the itinerary, her eyes landed on the destination. And suddenly, all sank in.
“You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered to herself, unable to hide her shock. The business trip was taking her to Sicily, Italy.
1/2
Chapter & Prepamtion
isabel locked down at her bed and all the open bones in front of her, sitcases and bags unipped, clothes lying inside some folded, others noted in a disordered mess. Het head belt as cluttered as the room around her cuntsion had wrapped liselt wound her brain, making thing seem hatice as chaotic. Scratching her head was her only way of calming down, but today, in that didn’t seem to help was as if her estal coping mechanin was on leave
What was she supposed to do? the one hand, she had to go on this trip, but on the oder, she really didn’t want to. And the fact that Mr. Mattes organized it only made he reluctance stranger. She just couldn’t shake the feeling that galag would mean she was show aligning herself with him and everything he represented. She didn’t want that
all But what choice she have?
The
resigning and starting over crossed her mind. Perhaps she’d end up giving tacus at Taco Bell, which wasn’t exactly how she’d envisioned her career going
Not that she had a notable career to begin with. People barely knew who she was 501, this tellerinke to take.
Did she really have to get haly was she actully about to bor to the whins of aman she’d met pestenay? Each passing minute made it seem more and more likely. Then, almost absenindedly, she began to wonder what the weather in ly was like
Picking up her phone, she searched online for aly’s climate, reading about its elve skies and wamsan, but then she stopped herself, realizing what she was doing.
“What are you doing, hav?” she mutter, tossing her phone onto the bed before collapsing entot herself. Her mind was so entangled in this trip–ane her heart was adamant apast. She needed advice. The only person shecould think of was Whi, brat she was on her shift at the pharmacy and wouldn’t be free for another thirty minutes. That was some combert, at least Violch know what to say, although, deep dom, tabel knew she’d probably just tell her to go for Viv had a way of newer taking these things too seriously, and she was all for Mr. Matteo. In fact, Isabel could almost guarantee that she’d take his side In this situation. She could even place a bet on it, and she’d probably loo
Atabel wallowed in her internal dilemma, her phone buzzed with a new email. Shecked it up, scrolling through to Enddetails from someone tamed Albert Apprently, he was going to be her contact in Italy. The email included his phone number, email address, and the schedule for her arrho.
“oh was, this guy doesn’t hold back, does he?” she thought to herself. Just as she was about to start overthinking the trip again, there was a knock on the door. Fired to have a distraction, she made her way out of the room and opened the door to find V, who stormed in with the mergy of a hurricane,
“Hey, I saw your bed. You said it was an emergency. What’s going on “Did you kill someone? Are we about to be accomplices in a murder?” she asked, throwing her bag onto dur
uch with exaggerated panke
“First of all, slow down.” tuubel lughed, trying to calm her down. “I didn’t kill anyone.”
ch, thank goodness, because I seriously thought you did. You’ve been so off lately,” she replied with a sigh of relict
**Why would you even think that?” kabel asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t know it’s you. These days, nothing seems impossible with you.“Vishnugged
“Enough with the bad jokes,verdal kill someone, you know you’d be my cover,g
She grinned. “Of course! you know I’ve got your back. But seriously, what’s up? What’s this big emergency?”
“Well, apparently, I’m supposed to travel to Daly,” Isabel replied, and Vitseys lit up instantly.
“What?maly? oh my god, that’s amazing! Wat–why are you going to Italy?” She looked at babel with growing suspicio
Isabel sighed. “tybess, Jacob Megan–you know, ‘Mr. Blk Hogan, as you would like to call him, we need someone to cover a story in maly. A festival, apparently. He specifically requested me, and I might be there for two, maybe three months. Oren longer.”
Vivd’s eyes widened, and her smile turned into a thoughtful expression before her face it up again. “wait, do you think tadb
“Don’t say it,” label cut in, but Vivi ignored her
“Oh my god! Mamed! You’re going to met Malleo, aren’t you?”
*Vnd, I never said that. We don’t know for sure.” Isabel protested, but Vim won’t listening
“Thais huge! You, in Taly, mert Matteo! Ugh, this in like a marie.”
Isabel sighed, realizing there was no stopping her once she got an idea in her head. “There are plenty of big events in Ely, Viv. For all know, this could be some randon
Jestival”
She wasn’t convinced, “All night, alright. Tell me more about
smysterious proposal, Visid, lying back on the couch, crossing her legs as if she were ready for storytime.
Isabel sat next to her and began recounting the details. “Well, they‘ or apparently covering all my accommodations, food, everything. And they’re even paying me estra, though the exact amount hasn’t come through yet”
Vit’s yes sparked with excitement. “Wow! Do you still get your salary, though?”
“Yeah, it seems like there’s an additional payment specifically for this assament “Isabel glanced at her phone, expecting an email to confirm that, but nothing came through. Talk about bad timing
nokory, so when are you supposed to lore?” Vid asked
“Tomorrow, “bel replied, feeling the anxiety babble up again
“Tomorrow? No way! That’s way too soon!” Vid said, finally seeming to understand Isabel’s stress. “They can’t just spring a triple that on you. Is this normal?”
“bonestly don’t know, VvL Allknow is that they goarme the contact devels of a man named Alberto, who’s apparently in charge of everything on that end.”
Visige her a mischievous look “ooh, Aberto Sounds fancy. Maybe he’ll which you away on a Vespa and show you the real Italy.”
“Stop it,” Isbelloughed, saling her eyes.
“All right, all right,” Vivald, raising her hands in playful surrender. “But seriously, maybe give him a call, tat him know it’s a sudden and ask for a couple of days in pet ready. Surely, he’ll understand that you need time to put your Hein order.”
“You thinkin kabel asked, feeling a bit more hopeful
“Absolutely Your boss may be to get on the next flight, Alberto is your contact. He might be able to give you some debility, les, you have a say in this, too, you know You’re not just some payco around”
“You’re right, “Isabel modded, taking her advice to heart. She should have some control this she shouldn’t how to dropping at a moment’s notice. “Thanks, Va
“Anstume,” Vit said, grinning. “Now, while you make that call, I’m going to tackle this mess you call packing.”
“Oh, real funny. You know I’m the clean one here, right?” Isabel teased.
“Yeah, yeah, koep telling yourself that,” Vid replied with a laugh, beading toward the clutter of clothes and open suitcases. “Go on, call Alberto. I’ll get you sorted.” tabel chuckled, pulling out her phone and searching for Alberto’s number in the email. She dialed, her heart pounding slightly as the phone rang.
