Chapter 7: Conlege
Are you sure this gown doesn’t make me look tat?” Isabel asked, turning Allglitle to checklerself out in the full–length mirror by her bed. The black dress hugged her figure in all the right places, hot somehow, she couldn’t shake a nagging doubt.
Vivi, her roemenate, looked up there the bag of cheetos she was inching on and started “Honestly? Yankook like blated bulldozer.”
“Haha, www.may, babel shot back, selling her eyes. “Can’t you give ine fireminutes without insubing me?”
“corar–on, babell You knew that’s my love language, Vitrayed, winking as she tossed her there mouth. “But serialy, why are you trying so hard? Isn’t this just a
Per right, “habelsak, taking a step back from the mim, “a’s just a meeting, nothing mor
“Ectly! No evil to Mss. It’s not the you’re meeting Matteo again anything, visa, sanding popadest a few stray bars. “You’re fine just breathe. Nothing can
nabel raised an eyebrow “an’t that what people say right before everything goes wing!”
“only because they overthink it,” Vivi replied, grabbing isabel’s shoulders and gtring her amassuring squeere. “Relee! II Lasked you what could possibly go wrong, you’d think of abindred serion.”
She had a point tubel took a deep breath and shook ont beams, trying to klf of the anxious energy. “Wright, fine. You win.”
Good New remember just be yourself. You’ve got this, “Vid grained, going her a thumbs- imp.
Isabel glanced at the clock on the wall 1:00 PM “ely need to get going. He said to meet at 7:30,”
“Alright, alright! Don’t forget to bring me back takeout!” Whitcalled, actes her an hubel grabbed her pose and headed out the door, shaking her head with a small smile. Vid world always find an excuse
outside, the evening air stool and fresh, which helped calm Isabel’s nerves. She flagged down a tri, and as they drown, her mind whirred with questions. Who was this Alberto, reath? What did he want? More importantly, who was his boss?
The cab pulled up outside the cafe, and she paid the tare, stepping onto the bestling sidewalk Inside, the cafe smelled of fresh code and baked goods, and the warm ambiance was surprisingly calming, Pilling out her phone, she quickly texted Alberto to let him know she’d th
“bin the back comer,” his reply came almost immediately.
Isabel scanned the room, and there he was a man in a sleek black suit with a crisp white shirt. His dark hair was neatly styled, and when he saw hat, he broke into a friendly
“Hey, you must be Isabel,” he said, rising to his feet and extending his hand.
She shook his hand, feeling the firmness of his grip. “Yes, and you must be Aberto.”
“correct. I’ll be your contact, concierge, and your bodyguard, if need be, for this journey”
sabel blinked, slightly taken aback. “Bodyguard? he’s that a br_much?”
Hacborked, brashing it oftast it were no big deal. “It’s just precautionary. Italy can be unpredictable sometimes, especially when you’re involved in high–stakes journalism.”
“Well, that’s comforting,” she sepedabit sarcastically“, da u want to get coke or something?”
“Already endered had aseeling you’d be a coffee person.”He winked.
As they settled down with their drinks, he decided to cut to the chase. “So, who exactly is your boss, Alberto?
Histook on agarded look “ah that’s something I’m not really at liberty to discuss in detail. I’m here to help with logistics, netto share secrets.
She leaned back, muling or his answer. “well, I’m going to assume it’s Mattes because, let’s face it, he’s the only person powerful enough to arrange something like this ”
Aberto chuckled. “Your assumption may or may not be correct. I’m just an employee, after all.”
“Employee?“abelsmerked “More like andby.”
“Touch.” He laughed, sipping his espresso with a knowing glint in his eye. “But my roles ab more complex than that.”
“okay, so let me be honest here I’m not entirely sure I want to go to Italy In fact, I told my editor wasn’t interested ”
Alberto locked slightly surprised but not at all shaken. “And why would that be?”
Label hesitated. How could she explain the gateeling that something was off? “I just feel like there’s more to this than I’m being told.”
He shrugged, stirring his coffee slowly. “It’s not unusual to have doubts. But let me remind you, Trabel, your company already booked your trip. And you’ll stil pet paid either way. “
He had a point. It was hard to down an opportunity Tkets, either instincts were screaming for caution
“okay, line,” she lead, sighing as she wrapped her hands around her warm coup. “But if I’m ping, it won’t be tomorrow have some things to take care of first”
He grinned, setting his cup down. “Of course. That was more of agende push to get you excited. We know women need a bit more time to get ready.”
“Excuse me?” label replied, crossing her arm with mock indignation.“I can move as if I need to
He raised his hands in playful sumender. I’m are you can to our line of work, though, speed is crucial. That’s all I’m saying.”
Tabel smirked. “Uh tub so whendel actually love?”
“Take your time,” he replied nothly, “Two or three days from now would be perfect. Just let me know when, and I’ll make all the arrangements.”
“Much better,” she said, breathing a sigh of relief. Belle, you don’t want to see the mess in my apartinest right now.”
They both laughed, the son dissolving. For the firsttime since this entire ardeal started, tabel actually felt a sheoxxent
As they wrapped uptheir conversation, Alberto checkund his watch, “thave to get going, there are a few things I need to arrange betare your trij
“See you in a couple at den, then?” she asked, standingus.
Hashook her hand again, ha timp reassuring. “Yes.just makes you’re ready. You hnemy number if anything comes up
“I be ready,” she promised, a newtound determination spuking inside her
With a final nod, he turned and let the case, his tall figure vanishing into the busy New York streets. Isabel watched him go, processing everything that had just happened. This trip was going to be interesting, to say the least.
As she stepped out into the cool evening air, she could already imagine Vid’s reaction when she told her the details, Isabel flagged down acab, feeling a strange sense of both trepidation and excitement brewing within her..
By the time she reached her apartment, Vivi was waiting, a curious expression on her face. She’d probably paused her movie marathon the second she heard Isabel at the door.
how did it go?” Vis asked, immediately jumping up from the couch.
babel handed her one of the noodle packages and sued as she walked into the kitchen to set some water boiling. “It went well. Alberto’s a cool guy. Very professional.”
85,” Vivi raised an eyebrow as she tore into the noodles. “Is he handsome?”
“Viv. seriously? Isabel said, trying to hide a smile.
“What? I’m not asking for me, I’m asking for you! Think about it–alone in Italy, with a guy who probably has an accent…”
“Not happening,” Isabel cut her off, laughing. “He’s Matteo’s employee. Besides, I’d rather stay out of trouble.”
“Okay, fine,” Vid replied, rolling her eyes. “But, seriously, what was the meeting about?”
“Well, apparently, I don’t actually have to leave tomorrow. Thank heavens because I still have a ton of stuff to organize,” Isabel said, stirring the noodles. “I told him I’d go the day after terboccow.”
“Oh, that’s amazing. I’m a little envious, to be honest, “Vivi sighed, watching as Isabel prepared the noodles.
“Cheers to new adventures!” Vivi sald, raising her cup of noodles as they both broke apart their chopsticks. Isabel laughed, clinking her noodles with hers. “You’re such a dork.”
The rest of the night was filled with easy conversation and laughter. They finished their noodles, debated over movie choices, and joked about Isabel’s upcoming trip until they finally fell asleep, the excitement still lingering.
The next day came and went in a blur, filled with last–minute packing and preparing for the journey. Before Isabel know it, she was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, wandering what this adventure would hold
The morning of Isabelle’s departure telt
el, He ahary dan post on the cler of sty. Sunlight streamed through her bedroom window, catching inalis on her bags, which were packed and stacked nothin the parler, made for her journey. She blanked against the brightness, will not quite able to believe that the day bad actually come
In the next rooms, Vivi was already bestling around with her assal energy, Ananghig and immagine Isabelle’s things as though it might somehow delaying bell sanded to berell, feeling a pang of gratitude and strach at sabiess, Saying goodbye to VM and the life she had grown comfortable with was going to be harder than she had
thought
“good morning, sleepyheal!” blcalled out in her usual singsong tone.” you finally realice you’re about to leave me here all alone to fend for myself? She gave Isabelle a post, crossing he animack dignation
Tubelle lighed, sluking her head “ch, come on, Vid I’ll only be gone for a bit. Beslides, we both know you’ll be bring your best life while I’m away.”
