EPISODE 16 — THE INTERVIEW
976 Words
Monday morning arrived sooner than Bianca expected.
She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse.
It wasn't an expensive designer outfit.
It was simple.
Professional.
The kind of clothes she used to wear before becoming Donna Romano.
She looked at herself.
For the first time in weeks, she felt like the old Bianca again.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Maria entered.
"The car is ready."
Bianca picked up her handbag.
"Thank you."
When she reached the entrance, Lorenzo was already there.
He looked at her from head to toe.
"You're going."
She smiled.
"That's usually what people do when they have an interview."
"I meant you're really going."
"I told you I would."
Lorenzo nodded.
"The driver knows the route."
"And the guards?"
"Two cars."
Bianca sighed.
"Lorenzo."
"They'll stay at a distance."
She looked at him.
"Fine."
He stepped closer.
"If anything feels wrong, leave."
"I know."
"Don't argue with anyone."
"I won't."
"Don't—"
She raised her hand.
"Do you have a list?"
Lorenzo stopped.
Bianca smiled.
"Because I'm beginning to think you have a whole speech prepared."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Maybe."
She stared at him.
"Was that a smile?"
"No."
"It was."
"It wasn't."
She laughed.
"See you later."
---
THE INTERVIEW
The company was smaller than Bianca expected.
It was a modern business consulting firm in the city center.
She entered the reception area and introduced herself.
"Bianca Moretti. I have an appointment."
The receptionist checked the computer.
"Yes. Mr. Adrian Cole is expecting you."
Bianca nodded.
"Thank you."
She sat down.
A few minutes later, a young woman approached.
"Miss Moretti?"
"Yes."
"I'm Chloe. I'll take you upstairs."
Bianca followed her.
As they walked through the office, Bianca noticed something.
Everyone seemed unusually quiet.
She glanced at Chloe.
"Is everything okay?"
Chloe smiled.
"Of course."
But her smile looked forced.
---
THE INTERVIEW
Adrian Cole sat behind a large desk.
He looked through Bianca's résumé.
"Graduated with distinction."
"Yes."
"Business Administration."
"Yes."
"Excellent academic record."
Bianca smiled.
"I worked hard."
"I can see that."
He placed the résumé down.
"So why haven't you worked since graduating?"
Bianca hesitated.
"My family needed me."
He nodded.
"I understand."
The interview continued.
Questions about management.
Finance.
Leadership.
Problem solving.
Bianca answered confidently.
After almost thirty minutes, Adrian leaned back.
"I think you're exactly what we're looking for."
Bianca's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
He smiled.
"I'd like to offer you the position."
Bianca couldn't stop smiling.
"Thank you."
They shook hands.
"I'll have the paperwork prepared."
Bianca stood.
"Thank you so much."
As she turned toward the door, Adrian's phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes?"
His expression changed.
"Understood."
He ended the call.
Bianca looked back.
"Is everything okay?"
Adrian smiled.
"Everything is fine."
But his eyes didn't match his smile.
---
OUTSIDE
Bianca walked out of the building feeling lighter than she had in months.
She called Lorenzo.
He answered almost immediately.
"How did it go?"
"I got the job!"
There was silence.
Then,
"Congratulations."
Bianca smiled.
"That's it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know. Maybe something more exciting."
"I'm happy for you."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
"Where are you?"
"Outside the building."
"Stay there."
"What?"
"I'm coming."
"Lorenzo, you don't have to—"
He had already ended the call.
Bianca shook her head.
"Of course."
---
ACROSS THE STREET
A man watched Bianca from inside a parked car.
He held a phone to his ear.
"She's outside."
A voice answered.
"Is Lorenzo with her?"
"Not yet."
"Good."
The man looked at Bianca.
"Should we move?"
"No."
The voice became colder.
"Wait until Lorenzo arrives."
The call ended.
---
LORENZO ARRIVES
A black car stopped beside Bianca.
Lorenzo stepped out.
She smiled.
"You actually came."
"You said you got the job."
"So?"
"I wanted to hear the details."
Bianca laughed.
"You could have just asked."
He opened the car door.
"Get in."
She climbed inside.
Lorenzo followed.
"So?"
"So what?"
"Tell me."
Bianca smiled.
"They offered me the position."
"Salary?"
She told him.
He nodded.
"Good."
"That's all?"
"It's a good company."
She looked at him.
"You checked them already, didn't you?"
"Of course."
"Lorenzo."
"I needed to know where my wife would be working."
She sighed.
"Fine."
The car began moving.
Bianca looked through the window.
"I actually feel happy."
Lorenzo glanced at her.
"Good."
"I haven't felt like myself in a long time."
He looked back at the road.
"Then keep doing what makes you feel like yourself."
Bianca smiled.
She didn't notice the second car following them.
Lorenzo did.
His eyes immediately changed.
"Driver."
"Yes, Don?"
"Take the next turn."
The driver obeyed.
The car behind them turned too.
Lorenzo's jaw tightened.
"Don't speed up."
Bianca looked at him.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
She looked through the rear window.
The second car was still there.
"That's not nothing."
Lorenzo reached for his phone.
"Call the other vehicle."
His security chief answered.
"Don?"
"Follow the car behind us."
"Understood."
Bianca stared at Lorenzo.
"Are we being followed?"
He didn't lie this time.
"Yes."
Her smile disappeared.
"Who?"
"I don't know yet."
The car behind them suddenly changed lanes.
Lorenzo watched it carefully.
Then it sped away.
His security chief called.
"Don, they escaped."
Lorenzo's expression darkened.
Bianca sat quietly beside him.
Then she whispered,
"Maybe I shouldn't take the job."
Lorenzo turned toward her.
"No."
"But—"
"You wanted something of your own."
She looked at him.
"I'm not going to let them take that from you."
For the first time, Bianca saw something in his eyes she hadn't seen before.
Not the coldness of the Don.
Not the distance of the man she had married.
Fear.
Fear that something might happen to her.
And that realization frightened her more than the car following them.
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