The Vindication Gents

Chapter 2.3

Christina Dobulski’s POV

I finally landed in Italy last night. Finally, I was a foreigner. I have been dying to be that someday and that someday was today. I was out of my home country and I cannot believe that my father was not aware of my disappearance.

I checked into a hotel in Milan. It was very expensive and almost broke my savings, but I have the room for myself for the next 2 weeks and until then, I don’t have to worry about my accommodation.

I was taking a shower as I was getting ready for my interview. It was still 8 AM when I got into the hotel and I had one hour and a half to get ready and another 30 minutes for my concession to the boutique.

I asked Kiara about all this and she just gave it. I think she was thinking that now I was on my adventure, I had to get to the boutique by figuring it out myself.

I sighed as I was rubbing my face as the cold water was hitting my face. It was summertime in Milan and I was thinking that maybe a summer dress would be appropriate for me to wear for the interview.

I hoped Antonio would not be picky.

I got out of the shower and dried myself with a fluffy towel. It was not the best room in the hotel, but I could get by. Being in the mansion and being served with the finest thing in life might make you think that I would be gross, but fun. In fact, I loved to indulge in gross things.

I remember vividly me playing in the mud during the rainy season, me searching for a caterpillar because it was springtime and I wanted to look at it so closely that I held on with my hands.

My tutors freaked out when they found out about that.

And here I was, dressing without the help of maids or anything. I’m sure I can get by because a normal life was what I craved, not the life that I was born into.

Do not think about it now, Christina. You have an interview to attend.

I wore minimal makeup as I only knew how to put on mascara, some powder, and lip gloss. I hoped it was not too mundane for a cosmetologist to see his PA candidate to be that plain.

I sighed as I was wearing a black blouse with dress pants. I was not wearing any stilettos because they were killing my feet, so I chose sneakers instead.

I hoped my minimalist style suited Antonio.

I went out of the bathroom as I French braided my hair and I went to put on some Eau de Perfume, White Musk by Body Shop. It always lifted my spirit.

“Okay, I’m ready,” I said as I was looking at myself in the mirror.

“Hopefully, he will accept me and I don’t have anyone to compete with,” I said as I had fingers crossed in my hands. I wanted this job so badly so that I can stay here longer and maybe gain some experience of dealing with matters under pressure.

You never know when you need to be ready.

I was getting out of the bathroom as I looked at my backpack. I don’t have any handbags to carry around, so I will be using my backpack as my handbag. I had cleaned out all the stuff in them as I will be staying here for two weeks, so I put it inside the closet that they have in the room.

“Okay, I got my phone, wallet, keys, resume and supporting documents. Oh, almost forgot,” I said as I went to the night table and took my ID.

“My passport, it was supposed to be the most important one,” I said as I was smiling before I put it inside my backpack and I was out of the room.

In the hustle and bustle of Milan, I managed to find the bus stop in time for me to board. It was like 3 euros for me to get on board. Now, I need that job even more as I have just spent half of my savings and I don’t think I can survive another 2 weeks.

I have already even begun this adventure!

I sighed as I was looking outside the window, as I was looking at my surroundings. Milan was such a great city as I was looking around. The people there were fashionable and I think my fashion style was an understatement as I was about to be interviewed by a world-renowned cosmetologist.

I gulped as I saw the boutique in front of me. My eyes were big as saucers as I just realized that I must have missed my stop.

“Stop, stop. Please, I need to get off,” I said in Italian as I was pulling the sign to get off of the bus. Everyone was staring at me as I was looking at them. I smiled apologetically as I was getting off the bus, even after the stop was far behind me.

“Thank you,” I said as I looked at the driver. He grunted before he cursed under his breath about the younger generation that has no respect for anything. I sighed as I was walking in the direction of the boutique. It was magnificent as I was looking at the sign.

“Romano’s Reality,” I mumbled before I was standing in front of the doorway. I was staring at the sign for a good 5 minutes.

“Ciao. Can I help you?” A petite person was coming out of the boutique as I must be gawking in the open.

“Oh, hi. Um, scusi. I was supposed to be here for an interview for the PA position,” I said as I took my offer letter inside my back. I was being clumsy in front of this immaculate person with her glossy hair and perfect makeup.

If I was to compare myself to her, I was a 0 and she was a 10 on the beauty scale.

She chuckled as she was looking at my clumsiness. I smiled at her as I was blushing hard right now. I could feel my face was getting hot and with that, the letter came out of my bag as I handed it to her. She read it and beamed at me.

“Well, we have been expecting you well, for another 15 minutes. You’re punctual. Antonio would love that,” she said as she gestured to me to follow her. We went inside and I was hit by the harsh air conditioning. It was nice but also chilled me to the bone.

“I’m Nina, by the way. What’s your name?” She asked as we were walking around the boutique before we were greeted by the stairs that were spiraling up. I didn’t know it had stairs. I stared in awe as I was walking up the stairs.

“Christina,” I replied, as I was still looking around the stairs.

Nina was talking about Antonio and how many people have worked for him but he fired them because they were incompetent, as Nina put it.

“But I think you will be what he needs,” she said as she was directing me to sit in the chair outside Antonio’s office, I assumed.

“What do you mean?” I asked as I took the letter from her. She was amused by my reaction before she went to knock on the door.

“Come in,” a gruff sound was coming from the room before she went inside.

“Wait here,” she mouthed before she went inside. I was looking around the room as there was a plastic plant that was immaculate with its shiny leaves and everything.

That thing looked even better than me!

I sighed before Nina came out of the room as she was beaming at me. I smiled at her before she gestured to me to follow her. I stood up and went to the door before Nina introduced me to Antonio.

The Antonio Romano.

“Sir, this is Christina, the applicant for the PA position,” she said as she was holding my shoulders. I looked in the direction of Nina, called ‘Sir’. He was staring out the window as his back was to my view.

He was lean and toned alright. The right muscles that were hugging his button-down green checker shirt and fitted denim jeans. For someone that was high class, he dressed like he was a normal guy.

Well, maybe he liked to be in his comfy clothes.

“That would be all, Nina,” his voice was commanding and husky. My heart swelled at it as he was sipping on his tea. Coffee? I don’t even know what this guy likes and here I was trying to get a job as his PA.

“Of course,” Nina said and with that, I was left standing near the door as Nina closed the door behind me.

Okay, now we were left with an eerie silence.

I did not move from my spot as I was standing still like a tree at the door. Antonio did not move either and I could sense he was enjoying his tea, so I was bothered to talk with me.

“Umm—” I started before he instructed me to take a seat in front of his mahogany desk.

“Take a seat,” he commanded, and I hurried to take a seat before he turned around to look at me. I was easing myself as I didn’t want to be nervous around him. I will be spending my time around him and if I was afraid of him, what’s the point?

“Now,” he said as he put his tea down as his hair was shimmering under the sunlight, "I am going to run my fingers through it. He shuffled as he turned to look at me and my grey eyes clashed with his caramel eyes.

“Shall we begin?” He asked as he smiled at me.

I think I have been taken to be in his warmth forever at this moment, starting with his warm eyes.