Chapter 39
CHARLOTTE
The following weeks were a whirlwind of activities, mainly focused on renovating the house and interviewing new staff. Initially, I had decided not to be involved in the selection process, but Maria insisted on consulting me about everything. So, this morning, we found ourselves sitting in the study with a group of applicants waiting in the hallway.
Setting up seating arrangements for the fifteen candidates who had applied for the position was a challenge, but we managed to get it done. Amidst the chaos, the handymen Maria had hired to fix the wall called to reschedule, and
she was visibly miffed about it.
“Think about it like this,” I whispered as I rocked our chairs gently. “It would’ve been terrible to interview in such a noisy environment.”
“But still, we needed to get it done today.” Her face morphed into a frown. “I could find a different firm to handle it.”
“Didn’t you say they were the best you knew?”
“Yes, but I’m sure there are others equally capable,” she answered back.
“If they don’t show up tomorrow, you can cancel and get someone else to do it.”
“Very well,” she responded and sighed. She looked at the door and called out a number. A few minutes later, a man in a blue shirt and black trousers stepped in.
He had a sunny disposition about him, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had seen him somewhere before. He answered Maria’s questions with a precision and clarity that clearly impressed her, and I could tell she’d want him
on her team.
“Have you worked as a security guard before this?” she asked.
The room fell silent, and I immediately understood why. I had remained quiet throughout the session, and now it seemed as though I had disrupted the rapport he had built with Maria. I arched my eyebrows, and a look of recognition flashed in his eyes as he glanced at me. He quickly masked his emotions and smiled, but this time, I felt
unnerved.
“Yes, I have worked as a private security officer for several firms and families that required my services. I cannot divulge names for confidentiality reasons, but…” He paused, his gaze flickering towards me before he continued smoothly, “I assure you, my experience and skills are extensive.”
“You want us to trust your word,” I chirped and he nodded in response.
“Yes, and the qualifications I have turned in.”
“Forgive my curiosity.”
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“I understand, ma’am.”
I raised a question, “Why are you currently unemployed if you have all these wonderful qualities?”
“I had to take a break for a while… I needed to go to therapy,” he replied.
Therapy?” Maria echoed in a surprised tone. “What for?”
“Maria, you can’t.” I started to say but he interrupted me.
“I’m willing to share. I served in the army for a while, came back home and I was struggling to get.”
“Get back into society?”
“Yeah, something like that. I thought it was better to get help than let it become a problem,” he replied, his tone even
and professional. He maintained eye contact with Maria.
“So you can shoot a gun if the need arises or you can’t because….”
“Oh no, it didn’t affect that,” he uttered. “I can shoot if the need arises.”
I turned to look at Maria; her eyes sparkled with curiosity, and I could almost hear the wheels of her mind turning, contemplating something I couldn’t quite place. I turned back and locked eyes with him once more.
“We’ll get back to you. Thank you,” I said, my voice steady but tinged with an underlying unease.
“Thank you.” He nodded politely, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes before he left the room. The door closed behind him.
“Whatever you’re thinking, we’re not doing that.”
“Don’t say that; he’ll come in handy if Ms. La Guerta turns up with some more cronies,” she advised.
“Didn’t you say she wasn’t coming back?”
“Did I? I can’t remember.”
“How convenient,” I stated and chuckled. She shrugged in response and glanced at the documents in her hand.
“I think he’s a great fit.”
“Well, it’s your call anyway, but we’re not giving him a gun.”
“Fair enough,” she replied, nodding. “Knowing someone who can handle himself. His presence would boost the environment.”
“What’s his name?” I demanded.
“Wells. Foley Wells.”
“That’s odd. The name doesn’t ring a bell.”
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“You think you know him?” she questioned.
“I can swear I’ve seen him somewhere. I don’t. Never mind, I’m probably just paranoid.”
She studied my expression and smiled wistfully before calling in the next candidate. A few hours later, we were done, and I was ready to leave. My next stop was the mall; I needed to shop for my journey. I was going to Los Angeles, and it seemed like something I had to do at this point. The thought of picking out new items excited me because it meant I wouldn’t be taking anything from the Thuthai mansion, except for my wedding ring. That was going to stay in my possession until I had a good reason to let it go.
“A blank slate,” I said to myself as I drove through the gates. I considered asking Maria to come along but I knew that
she would turn down the offer once more.
I couldn’t convince her to see how a new environment might be something to explore. I wanted to start this new phase with her by my side, but I knew better than to push it. This estate was her home, and if she didn’t want to leave, I couldn’t force her. She was devoted to her job here, and I knew she would never abandon the new staff. While she might be happy to have new people to work and interact with, it didn’t make much sense to leave them without her supervision.
The car came to a halt in front of the building; I resisted the urge to drive to the garage, knowing I lacked the energy to haul the bags from that distance. This was my best shot at making things easier for myself. I stepped out of the car and walked slowly through the front door. Once inside, I dropped the bags on the floor and made my way to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.
When I entered the kitchen, I found Maria at the counter, poring over some papers. She looked lost in thought. I watched her for a moment, contemplating whether breaking her concentration was worth it.
A few seconds later, she raised her head and met my gaze. “Welcome Signora.”
“You seem busy, Maria.”
“Yes, I’m trying to decide on the final list of employees. They resume tomorrow, so I have to finalize it today,” she explained, her tone carrying a sense of urgency.
“Are those the applications?” I requested and gestured to the papers strewn on the counter. She nodded in response and sighed.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
She glanced at the documents and shook her head. “I think I can handle this on my own. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Yeah, I didn’t use the garage. It seemed like too much work to drive to the garage so I stopped in front..
“Fair enough. Is everything ready for the trip? When are you leaving?”
“Wednesday, I’ll be on my way to the airport first thing in the morning,” I replied, opening the fridge.
“I hope it works out,” she said quietly. “You’ll call every day, right?”
“Definitely,” I answered and she smiled. “I did some research about school and getting a job.”
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“Getting a job? I thought you said…”
“Yes, I have enough money but that’s just enough to sustain me for a while. I’d need to multiply it.”
“You still have the proceeds from the estate.”
“No, you do. How else would we run this gigantic place?” I countered gently. “I have enough, but I’ll need to make more. My father used to say that there’s nothing like too much money, and I need a handful.”
My plan was simple: I intended to thrive regardless of the situation. I didn’t have the luxury of being the trophy wife anymore. This was an entirely different terrain, and I needed to step up now that my life had taken a different turn. I yearned to become a better version of myself, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
“Have you considered staying back in Milan?” Maria questioned, her words catching me off guard. I looked at her with a surprised expression. She had always seemed supportive of my decisions; I hadn’t expected her to suggest that I stay.
“1… No, I haven’t. I mean, it would be great to have the possibilities living here present but I think I really need to leave for a while.”
“Okay,” She answered, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’ll call every day?”
“I promise.”
“Be safe,” she said, her voice tinged with sadness.
“You don’t have to worry about me, I can handle myself.”
“I know.”
“You know something we could do?” I asked and fiddled with the bottle top as I walked towards her. “Go shopping together.”
“Weren’t we just talking about managing resources?”
“No, we were talking about utilizing what we have and spending it as well. Shopping sounds like a good idea.”
“We’ve not worn the clothes from our last rendezvous, Signora,” she scoffed and I chuckled.
“Alright, dinner then.”
I shook my head slowly as she started to object, “You can’t say no. Think of it as one last thing we’d do together.”
She nodded in response and reached for the papers. “I’ll go get dressed then.”
I watched as she exited the room and followed shortly after. We spent the evening trying new dishes and engaging in other activities, which made saying goodbye a little harder.
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