Wednesday. Is it possible? Have I really worked for De Angelis Corporation for only three days? It feels like three years. Now, I realize that I knew nothing about the stress and strain of the corporate world. Million euro deals, carefully crafted strategies, fateful decisions depending on a single look, a word, or a casual gesture... My respect for my stepfather grew a hundredfold, as did my admiration for Jason. This is totally crazy. I am petrified, but at the same time, I have to admit that I like it. The adrenalin, when you are not certain of the outcome and need to act fast, the euphoria of success, the dopamine, all of it is highly addictive. I almost feel like The Wolf of Wall Street, and I have done nothing but act like a complete fool. It must be beginner's luck. There is no other explanation for what I have achieved so far and my unexpected promotion. At least I hope dad is happy with my performance for once.

I step out of the elevator, expecting Luca to give me a loud greeting from a cloud of cigar smoke. Nothing of the sort is happening. My living room is spotlessly clean. All I can smell is the tulip scent of my favorite air freshener. There is a brand new barbecue in the middle, wrapped in bright red gift ribbon with a big bow. I am puzzled. Not that I will not enjoy some peace after today's unusual events, but on the other hand, I instantly start to miss my noisy brother. It would have been nice to tell him about Maurizio and Jason's unexpected kiss and be bombarded by loads of wacky advice in his style, which are absolutely impossible to follow but pretty entertaining to listen to. Although we do not see each other as often as before, he is still my best friend, actually the only real one I have.

I spot a note, stuck on top of the unexpected gift. Urgent business matters... Ryo, Luca's associate called... first flight to Rotterdam... apologize for the ruined BBQ and the crashed car... car will be ready in two weeks... blah, blah, blah. In other words, I am alone, and I am not happy about it.

As I flop on the sofa, the phone starts to ring for the fifth time this afternoon. My ex-boyfriend, Andrea, has always been a very persistent person. I doubt he has ever accepted 'No' as an answer. I am fully aware that no matter how long I ignore the calls, he will finally trick me into picking up. The question is what on earth he wants from me. Does he think I have changed and become more for a lack of a better word 'attractive'? I am not talking about my looks, although I am convinced he was not particularly happy with it, too. It's about my social status and my ability, or rather inability to display it properly in public. He resented my branded clothes, considering them too plain. 'If you spend that amount of money on a GUCCI shirt, make sure people see it,' he used to say. He was constantly annoyed by my reluctance to visit the hairdresser he strongly recommended, and most of all by my complete lack of positive results after several grueling sessions in the gym, except for a crushed toe and a bruised knee that is. We were the most incompatible couple ever. But he put his best effort into trying to change me and mold me into something I simply wasn't. I can give him that.

A/N

Hello, at the end of Chapter 30.

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Love: Anny