It was five thirty p.m. and the sun was going down the hill sluggishly, releasing streaks of tangerine and blunt rouge. We sat together in silence, waiting...Waiting for my mysterious agent.

My face fell onto his shoulder as I felt sleepy. I jerked back. He did not seem the least perturbed. I straightened on my own side of the couch. l closed my eyes. There was rustling and hurried footsteps.

"Master..." a distant voice echoed.

"Bring her forward..." another whispered.

I curled more into the blankets I slept on. I felt something stroke my hair. I wandered what it would be like if Marcus touched me, as I nestled myself in the cosy throw.

"Makayla."

"Hmmm?"

The far-off voice chortled.

"It is time to wake. Ms Bianchi has arrived."

I opened my eyes mechanically and saw shadowy figures looking down at me. A man with long hair, and two tall women.

"Marcus?" I said sleepily.

The statuesque man laughed in an aristocratic manner.

"No, I'm not Marcus."

"But you have long hair like Marcus and you even sound like Marcus."

He came closer and leaned forward as the mist cleared from my eyes, I saw a flirty smirk and that olive skin, distinct from Marcus. I tilted my head.

"So, you're Demetri, so where's Marcus?"

Demetri chuckled and looked up.

"Master, she is ready to have an audience with you."

I wanted to ask him if he knew I wasn't Marcus when the soft yet masculine voice said:

"Let it be done."

I almost fell off the sofa but his hands held onto me firmly. I looked behind me and saw my neck was curled against him my feet touching his thighs.

I was lying on him! I had fallen asleep on him.

I scuttled off.

"Oh, why didn't you wake me?" I muttered slightly so no-one could hear.

"You were agitated; I thought slumbering would ease your anxiety."

I felt so embarrassed. I covered my face.
Oh, my lord. He tugged at me.

"No time to waste. Ms Bianchi is here."

My embarrassment shifted to hope. I stood and I faced Ms Bianchi, caked with too much makeup and smeared violet lips. My heart burnt. My face was marred. I shouted.

"You incompetent, selfish woman. I've been so worried. You are a thief; you took my money and now I can't get home! I demand you send me home right now."

Her wide-eyed look vanished to become narrowed as lizard eyes.

"You are a fool to think I would get you home. Hah, you paid me nothing for all I did for you."

"That was what you advertised, so I gave that to you. And my money was more than enough for a return flight." I argued.

"You weren't even supposed to be alive long enough to return so it wouldn't have mattered. It would have been a waste of their resources."

I opened my eyes. I felt as if someone had strangled me and a hot brand was being pressed all over my gut.

"What...What do you mean I wasn't supposed to be alive?"

I felt my heart sink and I looked at Marcus fearfully. As soon as my agent realised what she said she became pale and her lips trembled.

Marcus had slitted eyes on her, a scowl distorting his normally beautiful face.

"It appears your stupidity has emboldened you, madam. Very well, since you are no longer of use to us, we shall be terminating all dealings with you."

Her eyes became teary. I saw Donatella shake her head at her.

"Please, signoire. I was carried away and... I thought we had agreed..."

Marcus turned his back to her and looked at me. Demetri took her arm.

"Heidi already explained what was to be done, to you. And you have failed us. It pains you too much to give away what was never yours, so you will reimburse us for what we have and will do for that woman."

"But I no longer have money," she yelped as he tightened his hold on her arm.

Heidi smiled beatifically.

"Oh, don't worry we will get the money needed from your company's coffers."

They went away with Me Bianchi struggling.

"I'm sorry!" she screamed.

I was concerned. Tears left me.

"So, I can't go then." The gravity of it all threatened to leave me a husk.

Marcus rubbed my shoulder.

"You can."

I looked at him in wonder.

"How, Marcus? She has refused to help and I don't know how to book an airline in Italy. I don't understand Italian."

"I would be happy to pay for everything and book it for you. But I think you may not get home today still. America is faraway."

I was blown away by this man's heart.

"I don't know what to say."

"You need not say a thing."

I smiled.

"Can I call my brother? My phone is off now and he needs to know I'll be getting home tomorrow."

"Alright, feel free to use our telephone."

He followed me to Donatella's desk. She kept her eyes down and gave me free reign at her desk. Marcus dismissed her after telling her to inform Heidi that she was to book my flight.

"What time am I even going?"

"I have no clue." he laughed.

Heidi came in at the right moment.

"Heidi, we need her brother to know what time she will arrive." he said.

Heidi smiled.

"It would be better if she took the fastest route home. I suggest she go to Florence, an hour away by vehicle; then she can fly to France before taking a connecting flight to..."

She looked at me then.

"Philadelphia," he replied softly.

"Precisely." She agreed.

"What are the approximate timings of her flight from France to Philadelphia?"

Heidi said: "Seven hours and fifty-six minutes, Master."

I turned to face her when she went behind the receptionist's desk.

"How long will the flight be from Florence to France?"

She didn't look up.

"An hour and thirty-six minutes."

"What time is it?" I said in response.

"Seven p.m., the earliest flight you can take home from is nine p.m., but according to the airlines they begin at twenty minutes to ten p.m."

So, if I go at nine forty p.m., from Florence to France then I should arrive at eleven sixteen p.m. Then maybe from midnight, I travel another eight hours. I should get to Philly at eight a.m. then.

"That's nine hours of travel!"

Heidi frowned.

"Is that too long for you? I could reroute if I find a shorter travel time."

I smiled.

"No, Heidi this is perfect. It took me almost fourteen hours to get here last time. Thank you. Could I maybe go now? So, that I get home as quickly as possible?"

She nodded.

"If you wish Benjamin can drive you to Florence in ten minutes. Then in that case if you do that you can leave at eight thirty p.m. for Paris and connect from ten thirty p.m. You should be in Philadelphia by at least seven a.m." Heidi informed me.

I thanked her excessively.

"It's no trouble, my dear."

I took the telephone while Heidi worked and dialled Jamal's number. I pleaded with Marcus using my brown eyes.

Please speak with Jamal. He took up the phone as it rang for the final time.

"Hello," Jamal said before Marcus placed the phone near his ear.

"Good evening. Jamal, I believe. This is Marcus; I am a friend of your sister. Yes, she had trouble with her travel agency so my company has taken over. We booked a ticket for tonight, but unfortunately you shall only see her in the morning."

"Yes, she is here."

Marcus' dark eyes looked upon me, as gentle as a caress.

"Jamal wants to speak with you."

I excitedly took the phone from his pale hands.

"Hey, Jamal. I'm sorry I couldn't finish talking to you earlier, I had..."

"What?" he said in interruption.

I furrowed my brows.

"Earlier? In the afternoon I called."

There was static before he spoke in a monotone.

"Kayla, this is the first time you called all day. I was trying to call you but it said your phone wasn't connected."

I shut my eyes. It seemed Demetri had been correct. Maybe I had dreamt it all. The phone call and those ghostly figures with red hair.

"I'm sorry Jamal. You must have been super worried. I thought I called you...I guess the stress got to me and I imagined it."

"It's ok; we'll talk when you are home. You should be careful which agencies you use. But I'm glad you made a friend. He seems caring."

I looked at Marcus who had seated himself, not too far away, on a yellow loveseat.

"He is."