Chapter 2 #3
Aida wasn’t sure what Fran meant by connections. It sounded both intriguing and fishy at the same time.
“Well,” Aida said, gathering courage. She had never liked the monetary negotiation part of the job process, but it was better
to get to the point. “You haven’t mentioned the salary.”
Fran flashed her a brilliant smile. “Yes, the money. It always comes down to that, although I suspect with all living costs
included, the additional amenities, plus love for the type of work you are doing, the salary might seem secondary.”
Aida thought of the astronomical amount of credit card and wedding debt weighing on her, but instead of objecting, she offered
Fran a patient smile.
“We are prepared to offer you four hundred thousand US dollars per annum.”
Aida’s jaw dropped before she could catch herself. “I’m not sure I heard you right,” she finally said, her heart racing.
“You heard right, Miss Reale. Lady Ozie values the work and compensates accordingly.”
“I . . . uh, I’m not sure what to say. This sounds too good to be true.”
“It is good, and I also assure you, it’s true. You will begin work right away. We’ll also provide you with a twenty-five-thousand-dollar
signing bonus to help you wrap up any affairs in Boston before you are sent to Rome.”
But $25,000 . . . Dear god, she thought to herself. That would stave off worries she had about paying for the wedding. And the salary, on top of all
living expenses paid? She could research and write solely for the joy of it, her financial concerns silenced in one stroke.
But a tremor of hesitation shook her resolve.
The money was more than enough for both her and Graham.
Technically, he could leave his teaching job; they could start a new life in Rome together.
Yet the thought lingered uncomfortably in her mind—did she really want that?
Would he want that? Graham loved teaching physics with a passion, and aside from words like spaghetti and espresso, he didn’t know a lick of Italian.
She imagined him in Rome, restless without the structure of his classroom and the intellectual challenge that came with it.
Graham was a man who thrived on puzzles and equations, the kind of person who needed a purpose to channel his energy. Without
the ability to teach, what would he do with himself all day? Sure, he could learn the language, but that would take time—time
during which he might feel like an outsider, disconnected from the very things that gave his life meaning.
Pushing those swirling thoughts aside, Aida tried to refocus on Fran’s words.
Fran seemed to pick up on her unease. “While we don’t expect you to decide right now, if you’re interested in the role, we’ll
need the signed contract submitted by this next Wednesday. The position starts with a three-month trial period to ensure a
mutual fit. If all goes well, you’ll then sign a five-year extension.”
Next Wednesday. That was only a few days away. Aida stared at the bowl with its golden apple just a few feet away. The apple,
with its brilliant shine, almost appeared as though it were truly coated with the precious metal.
“Miss Reale, are you all right?” Fran’s voice cut through her thoughts.
“I am. I’m just a little stunned. I need time to consider this.”
“As expected. You’ll find several items from MODA when you next check your email.
First, a reminder of the NDA you signed, which emphasizes that this conversation and anything related to Lady Ozie and the organization must remain confidential.
We expect that your fiancé will be part of your life in Rome, and as such, he will also be required to sign a separate NDA, allowing you to discuss certain aspects of your work with him within strict limits.
For anyone else, you can tell them that you’ve taken a position involving research on Italian antiquities.
It’s truthful and should satisfy any curiosity without breaching confidentiality.
” Fran paused, ensuring Aida was following.
“Additionally, you’ll find a link to a site with pictures and details of the palazzo in Rome where you’ll be living, along with the contract to sign electronically. ”
“If I take this position,” Aida said firmly.
“Of course. But I’m confident you will,” Fran replied with a small knowing smile.
The offer was undeniably alluring, but Aida felt a pang of conflict.
“I need to consider how this would fit into my life, especially since my fiancé is a high school teacher and can’t easily
relocate.”
Fran looked at her thoughtfully, as if weighing her words. “We’re aware of your situation with Mr. Pechman. Don’t worry, Miss
Reale, we’ve had employees in similar circumstances before. There are plenty of opportunities for someone of your fiancé’s
abilities, and I am sure we’ll have no problem helping him find placement.”
Aida’s stomach twisted. She wanted to demand answers about how they knew so much about her life, but managed to keep her expression
neutral, schooling herself not to react. She needed to stay calm, to not let Fran see her surprise. She simply nodded, forcing
herself to remain composed.
Fran extended her hand, and although Aida knew she hadn’t made her final decision, the gesture felt weighty, almost as if
accepting it would bind her to the path ahead. She hesitated for just a moment before clasping Fran’s hand. The warmth of
the handshake sent a ripple of unease through her, the job still seeming too good to be true.
“I’ll respond by Wednesday.”
“Excellent. I look forward to hearing from you,” Fran said.
Yumi appeared with Disa, as if on cue. Her friend’s eyes were unreadable.
Disa accompanied them on the elevator but did not step out when they reached the bottom. “Remember, ladies, you signed an
NDA. You won’t speak of anything you discussed today, right?”
“Right,” Aida and Yumi responded. No one would even believe them if they told the story, anyway.
“Good.”
Then Disa was gone, and a bellhop escorted them back toward the waiting Rolls-Royce.
A nudge and a shake of the head to Yumi as they walked to the Rolls had signaled not to speak of Aida’s offer in front of
the driver. Instead, they chatted about the Netflix show that Yumi had watched while she was in the theater room. But as soon
as the luxurious car had driven off and Aida closed the town-house door behind them, Yumi began to pepper her with questions.
“I need a drink to explain all this,” she said as she removed her coat and placed it on the hook near the door. “Come on.”
After texting Graham that she was safe and would tell him everything when he got home, Aida led Yumi into the kitchen, where
she mixed up a gin and tonic for each of them. She trusted Yumi, and since Yumi had signed an NDA too, she reasoned it was
safe enough to divulge the details. After all, they were in this together.
“Is the salary worth it?” Yumi asked as Aida dropped a lime slice into each glass and handed one to her friend. When Aida
told her the number, Yumi picked up the drink and took a huge swallow. “Damn.”
“Let me check my email. I was so stunned I didn’t think to look in the car on the way back.” Aida went into the next room
to grab her laptop. She climbed onto the kitchen barstool next to her friend and logged in.
“She said she would send me pictures of the place where I would live in Rome.” Aida opened up the email with the subject MODA palazzo.
“Dear god,” Yumi said as Aida flipped through the digital carousel of photos. “This is ridiculous.”
Aida had always understood palazzo to mean a palace in Italian, but she knew it also referred to apartment buildings, many of which were converted palaces.
For her stay in Rome, she had pictured a modest apartment, perhaps quaint and charming in its own right.
However, the photos she was now looking at painted a completely different picture.
She flipped through the images with growing astonishment: a massive master bedroom, multiple living areas adorned with Renaissance
frescoes, ceilings that could have been masterpieces from centuries ago. The terraces opened to views she had only dreamed
of, and the central garden was lush and inviting. Further images revealed a library, a gym, a massage room, a sauna, and a
well-equipped kitchen. This was not just any palazzo apartment—it was a living space fit for royalty.
“This just can’t be real,” Yumi said. “It has to be a scam. Hand me your laptop. Let me put my fingers to work.” After Aida
showed her the documents she had been sent and mentioned Mr. Khumalo’s heart attack that had ended his career, Yumi got to
work. She quickly copied and pasted everything into a new document and uploaded it into a shared drive that they used to trade
photos and GIFs. With a nod, she jumped off the stool and headed toward the door. “I’ll text you when I find anything.”
Aida didn’t need Yumi to hack up the information to tell her that the whole scenario was likely a sham. But what didn’t make
sense was Felix’s endorsement of Lady Ozie and her strange company. He trusted the woman, and if he said he had done work
for her, he must have. He would never have referred her to a company that would steer her wrong.
The money was a good lure, that was certain. She could pay for the wedding and a nice chunk of her credit cards.
As she scrolled back through the images of the palazzo again, excitement mixed with a touch of apprehension. This could be
a fresh start, an adventure. It was only for three months, but a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder—what if the job
was as incredible as it seemed? What if she found herself wanting to stay longer?
Aida had just finished tidying up the kitchen late in the afternoon when she heard the front door open. Graham stepped in, shaking off the cold and unwrapping his scarf. He looked tired but content, like he always did after a long day of teaching.
“Hey, you,” Aida called out, her voice carrying from the kitchen.
Graham smiled as he walked in, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. “Hey, yourself. How was your day?”
“It was . . . interesting. They offered me the job.”
Graham straightened, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Wait, already? That was fast!”
“Yeah, and it’s . . . well, it’s kind of unbelievable,” Aida said, trying to gauge his reaction. “They want me to leave next
week.”
Graham’s eyes widened. “Whoa. Next week? That’s not just fast—that’s weird. Why the rush?”
“I guess they’re really eager to get started.”
Graham ran a hand through his hair, processing the news. “Wow, that’s . . . a lot sooner than I expected. Do you think it’s
worth it?”
“They’re offering a hundred K for three months, plus a twenty-five-thousand-dollar signing bonus.”
Graham froze, the skepticism momentarily overridden. “You’re kidding.” He blinked, then ran a hand through his hair. “A hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars for three months of work? Aida, that’s . . . holy crap . . . that’s . . .”
“I know,” Aida agreed, feeling a rush of relief at his enthusiasm. “It’s a game changer.”
“I mean, it’s incredible, but is it legit? I just don’t want you getting involved in something sketchy.”
“Yumi’s already on it,” Aida assured him. “She’s digging into the company, making sure everything checks out. Felix vouched
for them too, and you know how careful he is. He wouldn’t have sent me their way if he thought something was off.”
Graham visibly relaxed. “That’s good. I trust Yumi, and if she gives it the green light, then I’m all in. Oh man, Aida, this could make all the difference for us.” He paused, thinking. “That’s a lot of money for them to just let you walk away after three months. What if they pressure you to stay?”
Aida shook her head. “I’m not staying, no matter what. It’s a trial period to see if they like me or not, and that has to
go both ways. Plus, with Yumi on the case, we’ll know before I leave if there’s anything weird.”
“All right, but, Aida . . . just be careful. That kind of cash isn’t handed over for nothing.”
Aida wrapped her arms around him. “We need this, Graham. It’s only three months. I’ll take the money, we’ll pay off everything,
and then I’m back home.”
Graham sighed, still uneasy, but Aida felt a little of the tension leave his shoulders. “Okay, but promise me you’ll stick
to your plan. Get the money, then walk away.”
“I promise,” Aida said.
He hugged her tight and kissed her on the nose. “I love you, Aida. I hate the idea of you being so far away.”
“I know. But it will make coming back and getting married all the sweeter, right? Absence makes the heart grow fonder?”
Graham lifted his hand, his thumb brushing lightly across her cheek. “I don’t think I can get any fonder of you than I already
am.” He leaned in, his lips meeting hers, slow and deep, the kiss pulling them closer, as if he could imprint the moment into
memory. When they broke apart, he smiled, eyes warm. “Wait . . . maybe I can.”
With a playful grin, he swept her up into his arms, laughter bubbling between them as he carried her toward the bedroom.