She's The Troublemaker

Chapter 10 - Is this a Maze?

"R-Roberto. I mean Roberto, sir ?" I said while I gazed at the Italian standing before me. I would never have expected him to be here. Who would have thought that I would be meeting a completely random person on this day. Why was Roberto here? Remember what Ashley said, Roberto has a chain of hotels and the presentation you gave was on a hotel. Yeah right. He owned Trian company. Ashley's got a pretty big catch. I know. Roberto looked the same with a formal suit in navy blue. He was sporting a black tie as well.

" Please Melissa. You are embarrassing me " he said and he chuckled a bit. As any Italian formal meeting, he grabbed my wrist and kissed it. So caught up with the moment I hadn't realized that my boss was actually watching us. Roberto noticed it and let go of my wrist. It was awkward I am here with my boss's client who happens to know me and we are sharing a friendly conversation here. I looked back at my boss and he was already staring me like the how-in-the-world-you-know-this-guy look. I just gulped down my saliva. The tension in the room was intense. Like on cue Roberto broke the awkward tension

" So sorry I must be leaving. Please don't forget to come to my party. I insist. Tomorrow at 8 pm sharp at the Wellington Mansion. Don't forget to tie the ribbon "

" I won't forget. Have a good day " I said. Roberto bid farewell. But something was nagging me at the back of my head. Something which I had forgotten to notice. Something was wrong. Ah, yes Roberto hadn't spoken a word to my boss . That was strange, considering that both had a business partnership. It could have been a misjudgment from my side but I believed it wasn't. It wasn't long that he had gone that I realized that I would be put up into an interrogation with the devil. Bring in the FBI or something . Confirming my belief he turned around and arched a brow at me.

" How do you know Astorino ? " he asked. Why do you care in the first place? Does he think that a normal girl like me deserves no respect or recognition from elite men? You are the wrong mister. People like us are also likely to meet new people. Elite or not.

" I know him. Why can't I make a decent friend in the city ?"

" A decent friend in the city does not include hotel owners "

" Why do you care? It's not that he is your fiancé or something "

" He was more than that, " he said. Oh My God. Is he really indicating that he is ......gay. I mean I am lost for words. My jaw hung open for the second time. Wait for a second if he was gay then why would he be interested in women. Maybe he is bisexual. You got a point there. I just stared at him in disbelief. It was too much to take in.

" Don't get your head spinning in another direction. He was close to me not as how you are thinking about it in that tiny little head of yours ." He said

" My head isn't tiny. Even if it is it has more functionality than yours " I said. That put him to a stop. A pretty long stop. Without uttering a word he gestured me to follow. As I followed him to a series of hallways, finally after a ten-minute walk. No wonder he is so fit to climb up the stairs, taking rights and lefts occasionally it was a workout on its own. We reached a room best described as a full function able office. He entered and sat on another leather chair. How many In-house offices has he got? I don't know. It feels like I am in a maze. I awkwardly stood admiring the scenic beauty out from the window. When he cleared his throat. I turned such that I faced him and the window equally.

" Do you have the tab ?" He asked

" Um.....No. I left it in the office. " I said.

"Fine. Take a seat. " I cautiously took a step and another till I reached the visitor's chair. I slid it to the side and took a seat. I began fidgeting with my fingers. As more minutes passed the more it felt awkward. Cold deathly silence followed. Why isn't he talking? Did he eat glue in breakfast? As if I would know. I looked up and saw that he was already working on his computer. That's why he's silent. He caught me staring as I quickly averted my eyes. The clicking on the keyboard continued. Say something, break the silence. More like break the wall. Um yeah. Soon followed the voice of the printer printing. I looked up again, this time a neat stack of paper was before me. I took the papers in my hand and skimmed my eyes through it. It was an itinerary, for a flight followed by hotel stays.

" Why did you give me this itinerary? " I asked

" Because we are leaving to Milan "

"When? Why? For what purpose? Why me? Are others -"

" Shut Up, " he said. In two words he had managed to shut my mouth up. I stopped talking as I waited for an explanation. " I have a meet with the architects in Milan. It will be a 4-day business trip. I have chosen you, Kristen, Logan, and Abdul. There are flight tickets and hotel itinerary for all four of you. I want you in the best condition. Make sure all of you are set. Pack your bags keep them ready. Bring additional cash with you . " he said

" Sebastian will be picking all of you up on Tuesday. Now take Sebastian and go . " he barked. I mean literally barked like a dog. A very handsome dog. Shut up would you? I slid out of my chair. Turned around to leave when -

" And stay. Away. From. Austorino " he said in a voice best described as a threat. I nodded my head and exited the office. As soon as I stepped out I was clueless. I mean how had I gotten over here. These lefts and rights were confusing. I tried my luck. First right and then another right at the dead end. Wait No it was left and another left. After half an hour later I was a complete mess. Who knew a house would be such a trouble. I didn't even know where I was right now. The best I could hope was someone to come and guide me along the way. Weren't people allowed to roam the hallways? Seeking for someone in need. I stood up from my seated position and took a sudden right. Ramming right into a solid wall. More like a wall which could move and talk and had a flesh of its own. I looked up to see a guy of my age. He had neatly combed black hair and was wearing a butler suit. He looked at me and bowed.

" Sorry, Ms.Raykar. I am so sorry to have bumped into you " he said. Wasn't he the one who was the doorkeeper at the other office. He looked more like to be the same one since he knew my name.

" It's fine. I am a bit lost. Can you help me ?" I asked as he nodded his head. He went ahead of me wordlessly and took a series of lefts and rights and then after like the 5 the right we reached the main hall. He bowed to me again. And was about to leave.

"Wait. "

" Yes, Madam?"

" Please stop calling me Madame. It makes me feel like an overly aged woman. Call me Melissa " I stuck out my hand. He looked at my hand and then very hesitantly he shakes my hand.

" Though it's a rule we shouldn't get to know about our master's guest. Defying that rule, I am Adrian. Adrian Lacoste " he said

" Very pleased to meet you. Adrian " I said. Adrian left me at the front porch where Sebastian was already waiting. I got into the limo and thought that I needed a rest so why not sleep. I was about to sleep when another ping of my phone brought me back my senses.

"Mel, Hurry Aunt Brooks panting. Need you to get here fast " it read.

" Sebastian. hurry someone is in danger " I said. He hit the pedal as all the sleep I had gone away. Nervousness started to kick in as my palms began sweating. It was just such a beautiful day and all of a sudden this message had blown me off. What had happened to aunt brooks?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All right another chapter is done.

May I say that this chapter is rather short and I apologize for it. Anyways I was hoping to make a better cover for my story but alas it never turned out to be good. If anyone of you could help me with this, I would be great full to you all. Until the next update

Happy reading.