"Why spend a lifetime searching for a needle in a haystack when you can simply bring your own? "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" so that's how I decided to return to Italy, but after all those years I spent in Switzerland, I discovered that you might be able to leave Italy, but... Italy will never be able to leave you... Your paths will cross and you'll find them every time leading here... to Rome..."
Celia smiled and nodded gently.
" You can't imagine how happy I am that you're back."
"And I'm happy to see you again,
Really... And now it's your turn, how did you end up working for our company?"
Celia sighed, a look of defeat in her eyes..
" Actually, I'm working to pay off the debt"
" What? "
"Let me finish, Alfredo.."She said as she continued :
" When I was sixteen years old, I had a very severe asthma attack that led to a rupture of the lung membrane, which caused air to accumulate in the chest cavity and put pressure on the heart and lungs. I needed urgent surgery to repair the tear and connect the worn-out tissue (pleurodesis), but the problem was that it was very expensive. My father had to take out a large loan from your company..
and then he was late in paying it because of the medication expenses after the operation, and you know the penalty for being late, so I decided to work to pay it off..."
Alfredo's face became so red that she felt like he was going to explode in anger.A mixture of shock and anger was evident on his face.
"What the fuck.. What about your studies.."
" I stopped it for a year, I will come back next year.."
Alfredo got up from his place angrily..
" This is not possible. How can my brother do this? Since when did he become such a monster?،Celia. I will solve it. You must return to your studies."
Celia got up quickly.
" Stop.. Alfredo, please stop. Don't do anything. Let me solve it myself. "
"This is bullshit Celia."
Alfredo shouted.
"Alfredo, please, I will not tell you so you can intervene, Also, we solved the problem. There are only 7 months left. I will do it.. Then, it is a good opportunity for me. I have saved time to study well for the specialty exam next year the matter is not As bad as it seems... And I really liked working there..."
Alfredo looked at her sarcastically,
" Celia, you must be joking... Please let me solve it and go back to your studies.."
" Alfredo, damn it. I wish I hadn't told you. I told you to stay away... Look, I will never forgive you if you say even half a word to Rodolfo of what I said to you. And I swear I will never look at your face again.. "
Celia said this all at once in Alfredo's face, which made him shut up، sitting down again...
She held his hand and caressed it tenderly...
" I know that you want to help me and I appreciate that... but please let me solve it myself..."
Alfredo replied, lowering his head down...
"You have not changed, Celia... I am sorry for what happened to you..."
She smiled gently...
"It is not your fault... Having you with me again is the biggest blessing now Alfredo.."
Alfredo smiled and hugged her..
" I will always be by your side, Celia.."
He said that while focusing his green eyes on her hazel ones, silent glances... as if he were giving her an eternal promise that he would stay with her, always by her side.. Forever
"And now, aunt Lizzie, I want another apple pie."
Celia laughed and got up to get him more.
"You will eat all our apples. I will not invite you again."
" Don't worry. I will come without an invitation. "
This was the relationship between Celia and Alfredo...
despite 10 years having passed since their separation. But the moment they met, it was as if they had never been apart.
There was no romantic love or infatuation... only... a pure, brotherly friendship...
in an era when it was difficult to find a true friend. Alfredo and Celia were proof that stood against anyone who said that friendship didn't exist..
....
Larsen Company
A beautiful, fresh spring morning.
Celia was breathing deeply in the fresh morning air in Rome on her way to work.
She now could not believe that the work she was forced to do had become a part of her, and she was going to it with all love instead of the discontent that was at the beginning.
These are the positives of positivity and optimism, and since she is a doctor, she knows very well that negativity and pessimism will only bring her diseases and will not change her situation, so it is better to adapt...
Get her out of her temporary peace with an annoying car horn sound ...
"Do you need a ride, my blue fairy?"
Celia smiled.
"I would be grateful."
" Get in!"
Alfredo said as he parked his favorite Mercedes.
" if this was a bribe to bring you my mother's pancakes, you have to forget about it... "
Celia said as she got into the car, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Damn, I've been exposed..."
The way they're talking seems so serious that no one will believe they're joking...
Maybe they're not really!...
" So are you now a worker in the company... " Celia asked .
"Worker!?, I'm your new boss, girl..."
"Oh, sorry, I forgot..."
Celia and Alfredo entered the company.
They were so immersed in the conversation that they didn't notice the employees' glances at Celia, of course This did not please Rodolfo who saw them when he was in the elevator. He stopped it and the three of them got in.
" Good morning, brother."
"Good morning, Mr. Larsen."
Celia and Alfredo said at the same time, which made them smile.
Rodolfo raised his eyebrow, not really understanding how Celia knew his brother, and this spontaneity between them that showed a long acquaintance..
The elevator stopped and Celia got off first.
while it continued to the other floor carrying both brothers..
Rodolfo's voice broke the silence that was in the place..
"How do you know her ?"
" Who?"
Rodolfo raised his eyebrow again at his brother's stupidity, then replied,
"My assistant."
Alfredo was trying to control his pent-up anger with difficulty, especially after he knows how she had become his assistant, Then he said:
" Long story... "
"I think I want to hear it."
"I think it doesn't concern you.."
He said that and got out of the elevator at the same time as he reached his destination...
Rodolfo bit the inside of his cheek in suppressed annoyance..
He's not used to his brother talking to him like this way..
He knew that his brother was a player and knew half girls on Earth, but he didn't expect to know her... her...
He entered his office, annoyed..
and found everything organized and ready to begin an online meeting with one of his clients.
The meeting lasted for three full hours, which exhausted him.
He held his head when heWhen he felt a slight headache, he picked up the phone and called Celia.
Within seconds, she was there.
"Yes, Mr. Larsen"
"I have a headache Make me something to help."
Wonderful, from assistant to maid ! But this time she didn't mind.
I think he discovered that people's health was my weakness.. She said to herself .
She nodded and went out and made him mint tea and brought it to him.
"Here you go. This calms the nerves."
" Thank you.. "
Before she turned to leave, he said:
"About Alfredo, he's your new manager. I don't think I need to introduce you."
She tried to control her expression as much as possible, forcing a smile. This provocative behavior of his would one day give her a blocked aorta.
"Yes, there was no need for that."
She nodded and left..
On her way to her office, Sarah overheard a conversation with an employee who had brought her an invitation for Rodolfo to attend the birthday party of the Duke of Milan's daughter...
"A party on the way, just what I needed.."
Celia whispered and smiled slyly
a hundred crazy ideas flooding her mind... It's Bianca's contagion!
.....
midnight. Rome.
"Bianca, I know your family is invited, don't lie."
Bianca rolled her eyes in boredom; her craziness was nothing comparing to Celia's..
"I don't understand, since when have you liked our parties?"
"From today, fine. Are you taking me or not?"
Bianca sighed..
"as if i had the option to refuse..."
" Yesss, thank you, I love you, goodbye."
Celia hung up and lay down on her bed.
Rodolfo, see you again..
She took out a box from her closet containing wigs and contact lenses, smiling.
"Um, but I have to come up with a French name for myself… What will I be… Suzanne? Um, no. Camille? No…"
She put her hand on her chin, closed her eyes, and thought… Then she suddenly screamed :
"Marie… Yes, it's beautiful and suits me…"
....
Racina was in the kitchen making cookies.
Yes, at this time of night, but what could she do? She felt like eating them, and of course, she wasn't going to let her beautiful, kind, delicate self crave something and not get it.
Suddenly, she whirled around, knife in hand When she heard silent footsteps behind her .
Who else but those three who ruined every one of her good moments
Moreno, Antonio, and Helen—was there
"Mmm, the smell is so good it even brought me out of bed,"
said Antonio, as Helen went to open the oven to look at him.
And Antonio was tasting the chocolate sauce she had just made.
As for Moreno, he was giving her those strange and disgusting looks.
"Aaaaaah!"
Racina screamed, making them all stop what they were doing and look at her in surprise.
"You bastards! How dare you? If you don't get out of here, I swear I'll cut you up and add you to the cookie filling!"
"Ugh, it'll taste bitter because Helen's in it,"
said Antonio, who hadn't had time to process why he'd fallen to the ground.
Yes, Helen had thrown a glass at his head.
He deserved it. Annoyed.
Rasina smacked her head in frustration.
Then she said,
"Fine, what do you want from me? I'm listening."
" Good, that's a civilized way to discuss things."
Helen said، "What are you hiding from us?"
Rasina raised an eyebrow as Antonio, still lying on the floor, continued Helen's words :
"Whatever you're hiding, you'll regret it if you don't tell us willingly."
"We'll find out for ourselves, but you won't like the way we do it."
Moreno added.
"What on earth am I hiding from you? Get out, or I'll tell Uncle Alejandro!"
They rolled their eyes and left, pointing at each other and then at her—a cheesy way of saying,
"We're watching you."
When they finally left, she smelled... Damn it... her sweets were burning.
She took the tray out of the oven, cursing and swearing at them with every word imaginable.
"Bastards!"
.
.
.
.
....
ʚEnd of chapter ɞ
A new chapter, friends!
What do you think?
What is Celia planning to do?
Stay tuned, the upcoming chapters are exciting!