LUNA

Chapter 4

Luna Orlando

When I got to JFK Airport. I took both my airline ticket out and passport.

I went to a Transport security officer to check my boarding pass, ticket, ID and passport for security check.

"Miss Orlando" he straighten up and picked up a phone and made a call " she is here"

I should have known my father will still find his way, why is he making this homecoming a big deal.

I remember our conversation two days ago when I told him I am coming to Italy and he should prepare an apartment where I would arrive to.

He said no and I should come straight to the house.

And he told me a plane will be waiting for me at airport , I told him I had already booked my ticket,after we argued for 20 minutes he told me I could follow the airline.

"Miss Orlando, An airhostess will attend to you shortly" he stamps my passport and handed it over to me " here she is " he pointed to the airhostess who walked smartly towards us.

"Miss Orlando Good evening " she greeted " My name is Fiona and am here to take you to the plane"

"I can walk there myself" I snapped at her

"It an order from the airline authorities Miss and we also love to make our passengers comfortable"

"On whose order?" I questioned her even if I knew who is behind this

"Mr Orlando, Miss Orlando"

I knew it

"Fiona the flight is in one hour and I will love to wait at the airline lounge before boarding the plane"

"Ok no problem Miss Orlando see you in the next 30 minutes I will show you the way to the lounge, Miss orlando

By the time I got to MXP (Milan Malpensa Airport ) I was already tired. I was surprised to see my dad at the airport holding flowers and a cardboard ( welcome home Luna) written on the cardboard and I think his secretary the exact secretary that came for my charity organisation opening when I clocked 17.

holding another cardboard( we love you luna) writing on it.

It brought tears to my eyes.

I was not surprised my mother was not here.

She might be in a shoot or in a meeting or not even in the country.

As soon as he saw me walking down to him, he signal to some men who went to collect my luggages in the troller and rolled it out of the airport . They should be is bodyguards.

"Hey stranger", I walked up to him and gave him a hug which he returned back immediately.

"Luna"

"She didn't come ? "

Without asking who my father answered "She is busy luna"

I sighed" dad stop making excuses for her "

"I'm not making any excuse Luna, your mother is out of the country"

"Better." Thank God father and I can have this bounding time before she comes back.

"Luna" before he spoke he signal to his secretary and the men for us to start moving " why don't we take this discussion home."

"Yes and we will also talk about the Mln Airlines"

The car came to a roundabout with a huge fountain at the centre swept around it and it continued up towards a fantastic mansion.

I got down from the car and stood in front of the strange House, it was not the home have being picturing in my head. It was entirely different.

The mansion is long and narrow. It is 5 stories high and has a story extension at the rear of a room.

A big rose garden is planted in front of the story extension. There are at least 70 windows in the five floor facing the drive way .

"Dad did you change the villa?"

"Yes we did "

"Non dirmi che hai venduto l'unico posto in cui ho vissuto in Italia, papà" I shouted at him.

Don't tell me you sold the only place I lived in Italy papá

I can't believe he sold that house.

"No luna, we only moved. The mansion is still there. " He knew I wanted to ask more questions " luna don't ask questions,that another story for another day "

"Ok papa"

Half a dozen of girls in the same uniform came outside , I guess they are the maid

" Bentornata a casa signora luna"

Welcome home madam luna they greeted me together

" Grazie " they took my luggages in.

Thank you

"Let's go inside luna." Papa said

The stairs leads down into a tall galleried floor with a rug spread linking to various rooms.

His secretary and the maid left as soon as we entered the mansion.

"So luna you have the 3rd floor to yourself, a Mini kitchen, a dinning room, an office, a sitting room, waiting room, a guest room, your suite. He said happily

We walked into the sitting room and sat on a three sitter cushion.

"papà trascorro solo cinque mesi qui" I sighed at him

Papá I am only spending five months

He smiled back to me "mi piace che parli italiano" changing the topic.

I love that you speak Italian

I muttered sadly "amo l'italia papà, sei stato tu a trascinarmi negli usa"

I love italy papá, you were the one that dragged me to USA

We were disturbed by his secretary who came in looking sad and confused.

"Is this urgent martins ? " My father questioned him, without asking him what the problem

"Yes Mr Orlando"

"What?" My father snapped at him

"The chairman of Greco Inc died this morning" he replied sadly

"What, how, when, what killed him? "

I looked up to my father to see tears rolling down from his eyes.

"For now we don't know sir, his family is yet to release a press release of what caused his death sir"

"This is so sad"

"I know sir, signora luna" I looked up when the secretary called my name " Mr Greco snr was a close friend of your father "

Oh that's answers why my father is so affected with the death of this man

"Please make sure your father is good, I have cancelled his appointment for the rest of the day and am looking for a way to make an appointment with the family of Mr Greco"

"Don't worry Mr Martin I will do justice to that."

"You can call any of the maids to show you around, Rachel will be coming in this evening"

"Who is Rachel?"

" The head of the workers in the house and she cooks Mr Orlando food"

While is it Rachel not Mother

"Ok Mr Martin"

"Papá let me take you to your room, I think you will need some time alone"

Papá just nods his head and stands up. He led the way to the elevator, he press the fourth button. I guess that should be he and mother floor.

We came out of the elevator and papa led the way again to his suite. His bedroom is beautiful, well everything in this mansion is beautiful, the interior decorator did a great job.

The room contained a big bed, neatly made, dressing table , the closest is literally in another room,the bathroom door is transparent.

I took papá to the neatly made bed .

"Sit papá"

"Thank you Luna"

" Papá I didn't know you and Mr Greco were thus close"

" Luna he was my best friend, we went to the same school from creche down to higher institution "

"I so sorry papá"

"We still saw each other 2 days ago, you know ? And he was happy you were coming home"

"Me? "

"Yes Luna , he wanted to meet my only child, You know he blames me for taking you to another land and not dealing with the problem itself."

"What problem papá?"

"Luna Please I don't Want you to go back to America" he changed the topic

"Papá we will talk about this later, what you need now is to rest"

"Luna " what ever he wanted to say was cut off by the person knocking the door.

" Come in "

A beautiful blonde woman came in ,she was wearing a pink dress, she made her way down to the bed and stood beside the bed post.

Another woman in my parents room, alot is going on in Italy I don't know , first my father my father just made me realise it was because of a problem he sent me to USA when I was 5 and now this woman walks magnetically as if she owns the room "

"Welcome home Miss luna, my name is Rachel"

Oh Rachel , I thought Mr Martin said you were coming in This evening" I questioned her

"I couldn't stay back , immediately I heard the news of Mr Greco death I rushed down here, I know Lorenzo , sorry Mr Orlando is going to be sad when he heard the news.

Lorenzo, hmm a lot is going on here.

"Papá I will excuse you and "Rachel" , you know I had a long flight, see you later papá and Rachel" I turned to meet her " make sure he rests "

"Ok luna The third floor is yours and ready, please if you want any changes please make sure you let me know immediately"

It luna now