Running Away to London

by Geiza Stefany de Oliveira

  He looks at me, quickly turning his neck and then turns off my cell phone. I feel sudden anger, by no means understand what he was doing with my cell phone in his hands! I pull myself together, slightly nervous taking my cell phone from his hand. I turn on my cell phone seeing that he was researching an event.

  Suddenly, the car stops near a very characteristic stone house for meters in front. It has two floors and is close to the mountains.

  “Wait for me here.”

  Mr. Pollentier says looking me straight in the eye.

  “Yes, sir.”

  I remain in the car, but I follow him with my eyes almost dying of curiosity. He takes his cell phone out of his pocket and sends someone an audio message right away. It takes no more than 1 minute and a beautiful woman opens the gate.

  She is so beautiful! A beautiful Italian woman so tall, and her curly hair. She is so skinny — I should say she is a recluse model in her hometown — and looks scared. The look the woman makes is one of utter astonishment. In less than a second after seeing Mr. Pollentier, she raises her hand and slaps him in the face, leaving me gasping.

  Even the driver looks scared. I want to laugh, but I hold on. She looks toward the car as they talk excitedly in Italian. I look away, move my cell phone just as if it is nothing. As little as I can understand I realize they are talking about me.

  “I came here because of you. I left everything to see you, Jordan, but it was the worst thing I could do!”

  I fully understand. I turn my gaze from the corner of my eye, see both of them. Mr. Pollentier holds her face and kisses her like a man in love. I have got to confess that they like each other and make a beautiful couple. Seeing them like this causes me a melancholy that I try to repel, but it is not easy.

  I also left love behind when I decided to go to England... thinking about it still hurts even after 1 year, because I messed up. I look at my boss being rejected this minute. She cries and he, in his way of being, is angry. For a moment I should like to understand what is going on in his head, but I have got to look away.

  My boss is coming here, his face is red and he looks very angry. I look at the woman who stares at me with a broken heart. God, what is going on here? Did this beautiful woman break my boss's heart or he is guilty? That situation happened apparently in less than 5 minutes. She was firm and decided.

  For the first time, I feel sorry. My boss just orders the driver something tense. We returned to Milan in silence deep, by the way.

  Chapter 6

  Finally, we arrived at the hotel in the beautiful Milan. The silence continues and my boss is not happy at all. We enter the elevator after check-in and I feel embarrassed about him. I can hardly imagine how desperate this man is for that woman. For what reason? She must be worth it.

  So my boss has a heart. Oh, I could not imagine! Silence ceases at my bedroom door.

  “We'll have got coffee in 10 minutes. Wait for me here.”

  He looks at me steadily, but the sadness is still there.

  “Yes, sir.”

  I forget his negativity in 3 seconds. I could scream like a little girl here, seeing the beautiful room. Although not as luxurious as I imagined it would be. I brush my teeth, touch up my smudged makeup, and change clothes.

  In 10 minutes I am in the hallway waiting for that man who is changed clothes and smells like a wonderful scent... we will go to a table for two in the restaurant. I observe his posture and balance. I see my boss ordering our coffee still in Italian.

  As soon as I deliver the menu to the waiter his gaze is entirely mine. I stare at him expecting anything.

  “Tonight there will be a sample at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, as I already brought my suit you will work here at the hotel. We are going back to London at midnight.”

  I try to suppress any emotion in front of my boss. He looks at me determinedly, looks like he is going to act like James Bond on an ultra-secret mission. I, however, will stay at the hotel...

  It is hard, but I want to scream in his ear, "Have you completely lost your mind?", Oh my God! We are in Milan! The least he could do was take me to the Gallery with him in a Gucci dress!

  I remain quiet already formulating how I will do to enjoy Milan without him, at 6 pm. The minutes pass as our coffee arrives and I'm still taking notes of what I have got to do. Would it be comical if I was suddenly promoted to partner with the company?

  “And send Gisele an email so she can exchange 2 models of the casting...”

  He quotes names that sound to me Russian and Greek. I am going to have got to search Google because I do not know how to spell, but at least I know how to talk.

  Finally, he eats dinner the most polite way I have got ever seen a man eat. I eat, hungry and angry. There must be a way for me to get out of here, even right under my boss's eyes. We remain silent as he stays on his cell phone the rest of the time until he pays the bill.

  I look to the side and see some tourists staring at us. They are ladies, a little older, and at the moment they shake their heads in disapproval of what would be a relationship between me and Mr. Pollentier. I want to laugh, but I remain serious.

  “We'll meet at midnight, Luiza.”

  My boss stands up, looking me in the eye. I do the same.

  “Yes, sir.”

  As usual, he disperses without saying goodbye. I go straight to work, but first text my mom and flatmate.

  I know my mom will only see this message later, and my flatmate will just see it. For 5 intense hours, all I do is work. What I do most is exchange emails and solve boring paperwork for what my boss wants. The 5 o'clock fly and I realize that I did not have got lunch, I did not take a bath and much less went out to know Milan.

  Elliott must be enjoying the day, albeit desolate. It is amazing what 5 minutes after a relaxing bath can do to someone. I simply sleep, intensely with a noise that pulls me out of sleep; Someone is practically pounding on my bedroom door.

  He wakes me up with a fright and still makes me realize the emptiness in my stomach. I get up mad. I barely open my eyes, so my eyelids are heavy.

  “Who's there?”

  I scream, exasperated like a boring old woman.

  “Open the door, Luiza...”

  Elliott's voice is low and wobbly. I think he is drunk... I come across a handsome, well-dressed man in a suit and tie. He advances on me, kisses my mouth intensely as a lion wants to devour his prey.

  It is too much for me! I try to push him even though my body asks for more. Elliott Pollentier is strong, hot and drunk right now.

  “You don't want to do this!”

  I shout, surrounded by his arms on the adrenaline-packed wall. Every part of my body reacts to his body stuck to me. It would be a lie if I said he did not attract me. But there is no passion here. I do not even know him and would not go to bed with a stranger, much less my boss. That's the last straw.

  I am not that sort of woman who gives her body for pleasure without much criticism, even though the man is sexy and rich. I breathe, panting, my hands on his chest. Elliott looks into my eyes trying to decipher me. He is so out of place and lost...

  Slowly he pulls his face away from mine. His hot breath hits my face, his arms are tight over me. It is awesome...

  “I want a lot.”

  Listening to him like that, so low and full of desire for me makes me withdraw. He still pinches my lower lip with his thumb sliding it. His look is now my lips bulky.

  “Get out of here!”

  I say, taking the strength I do not know where. I push Elliott Pollentier and quickly go to my carry-on bag. In no way do I dare look at him.

  “Luiza, do you think I don't understand the way you look at me ?”

  He insists, having fun. I know you smile behind me. What a shame!

  "I want to get out of this room, far away from you! Oh, how can you think you're going to drown the hurts your ex-girlfriend caused me?”

  I turn my gaze to him disgusted with my coat. I am in jeans with a white wool shirt.
I look into my boss's eyes, he is still bewildered. His footsteps lead him to my bed, so he sits on her edge.

  “She wasn't my girlfriend...”

  I smile incredulously.

  “Oh no!”

  He falls into bed, covering his eyes with his right hand.

  “She was my fiancee, and I loved her until tonight.”

  It is hard not to squirm at what I hear. He even looks like me, no matter how insane. I remember my past in Brazil, the bad choices I made... for the first time I hate my boss.

  “Now she's kicked your ass, deal with it like a decent man and not harassing your employees!”

  Some more I would call him an asshole, but I take off my boots and leave quickly. I leave him in my room. He does not come after me and that is perfect! I could slap him too, but it is not worth it. Damn it! Why do not I quit and stay in Milan? I am so stupid! Now it is late, if I do not receive my salary then I will have got to live on the street, but do not return to Brazil.

  I leave the hotel sighting Milan. In a few seconds, I almost freeze. I embrace me and going straight to the cold of the street. I am not going back to the asshole up there anytime soon!

  Chapter 7

  The Duomo of Milan is beautiful! The details delight me. I love the Gothic architecture and the beauty of what people from centuries ago produced. But the irony is that my father's loser who taught me to love these things.

  For almost a year I hated all men in the world believing that they should be like the one who gave me life. Of course, not all men are equal. The good ones should not be so easy to find.

  I shut my troubled mind concentrating on the huge pizza I eat. I am starving! I leave the hotel surroundings without blinking. I take the train and go to the square. I intend to follow the Milan canal. There are a lot of people my age around here, but I miss every look I get.

  The drinks are delicious here and I can let the hours pass. I return to the tourist center sometime later and go to a terrace of an expensive bar trying to distract me a little more. The only thing that gets me back to the hotel is the weather.

  The worst thing is to see my boss passed out of sleep in my bed. The drunk slept and it is past midnight! We missed our flight, and I do not know how I am going to sleep tonight. I dress a little longer and leave again until I get to return.

  Anyway, my boss expects me at the door of my room in the hotel very early and I am tired of so much dance. He looks at me from under his sunglasses and I do not give a shit.

  “What happened, Luiza?”

  The question is really about a lost man. He has no idea what happened!

  “What I know is you got drunk.”

  I fold my arms, waiting for him to answer me, leaning against my wall.

  “Oh, damn it! If any paparazzi have got seen me...”

  “You sue.”

  He looks me defeated. I am hating this man, with all my might. How can he not remember what happened between us?

  “You bet. Did you spend the night out?”

  “Yes, I passed.”

  I uncross my arms impatiently. My countenance is fully enclosed. I stare at him without fear or disturbance.

  “Why was I in your room?”

  Ah finally! Seriously? This is the minute I could fly around his neck and tell the whole truth if this is not sarcasm.

  “You were drunk...”

  But I have got a job to preserve. I need the money and something tells me he only did what he did because he was drunk. Besides, he misinterpreted my stares. I do not want to face him ever again in my life.

  “Don't tell me I did some shit!”

  What the... He removes his glasses, and I can see his sincerity. Elliott is very lost, so he makes me feel sorry. God, how did this man get to that level? Oh... the death of his father. Elliott is screwing his own life because he is in mourning, plus he is a big idiot. It is all.

  “You fell into my bed and fell asleep, so I went to enjoy Milan. I'll prepare myself already if we're already going...”

  “Our flight is in an hour.”

  He just says after interrupting me and walks away. I still hate him for not remembering what happened between us thanks to his drunkenness. Then we walked together through the airport, side by side, without thinking of each other and in silence. We also sit together, talk about work, and I have got more notes.

  Besides, we slept. Our biological clock is messy so the stewardess needs to wake us up. I remain incredulous to see that his driver, Jimmy, is taking us to the office. The day will still belong.

  Chapter 8

  Just for a moment, maybe for 6 hours, I wish my life do not be about Elliott Pollentier. I try, starting with my flat. It is Saturday, the office is closed, but my boss can call me anytime he wants.

  I am so glad that he still wants me next to the office to this day except for Milan; I am still digesting what happened between us. Today is a good day to clean up all my mess, yet I leave three separate clothes in case my boss calls.

  My cell phone buzzes on my bed, but Kim is calling from Instagram. She just enjoyed all the photos I took of Milan, including the ones I took with tourists at the nightclub I entered. It makes me laugh remembering that I had a little fun in that beautiful city.

  Kim sends me messages seconds later: "We need to tea now at the London Eye, 5 pm." It made me a summons. Kim saves my Saturday and she has no idea! I have not had a decent Saturday like this in weeks. Besides, today tourists do not stress me out.

  I arrive and so does she. In my hands is a huge cup of tea and in her hands too. She stops, one hand on her waist dressed appropriately for the poor weather and no makeup on her face — unlike me. My face twinkles makeup.

  “Sorry honey, but we have got a lot to talk about.”

  That is the first thing she says like I am the source of a gossip journalist. I smile, confirming that for just a moment I wish my life was not about Elliott Pollentier.

  I told my mom everything that happened in Milan and she buzzed on the phone for 30 minutes until she saw Mr. Pollentier's face on Instagram. After that, she softened and then I hung up. Today the memories of my boss and me in that hotel room are no longer so intense. I have got a raised guard all the time, by no means does it overwhelm me.

  “The last time I climbed here was 2 years ago. Can you imagine?”

  Kim asks me concentrating on the last part of her tea.

  “Yes, I can. Life for us poor mortals is not easy at all.

  She laughs, fun. Kim is very well dressed. His gaze is totally on the rest of London. We stood appreciating the sight.

  “So technically you still owe me a job.”

  “I so sorry, I know and promise I'll work better on it on Monday.”

  Kim looks into my smiling eyes.

  “It will not be necessary, you fool! I have got a new job if you want to know.”

  “Oh! You have a big one. Please, tell me more about this.”

  “I know, this is great! My new job is at Audrey Pollentier's house.”

  My mouth is open.

  “Are you her new assistant?”

  Kim shakes her head excitedly.

  “I’m her daughter's new assistant. This is about Mia Pollentier. I'm so happy! I contacted some people and finally, I will work for the one I admire.”

  “This is great!”

  “You would love to be in my place. She is involved in hundreds of events, not to mention international travel. I can only wish good luck with Elliott.”

  “Thanks, Kim. I hope we meet more often, and good luck with your new job too.”

  I see a frown on her face. I look away instantly.

  “You are not happy.”

  “Happiness is silly now.”

  “Oh, what did Elliott do to you?”

  I look at her curiously.

  “Has he ever done anything to you?”

  Kim laughs at once and drinks tea.

  “No! He has got a girlfriend, an Italian model named Jordan Battaglia.”

 
; I exhale air tiredly. I drink tea to calm myself from the stress of Milan.

  “He had got, and she wasn't a girlfriend, but a fiancee.”

  “No way!”

  She screams attracting glances. Oh great! The last thing I wanted was to be gossipy.

  “It's a long story.”

  “Please, tell me everything!”

  “I so sorry, but no, Kim. I do not want...”

  She sighs mad at me.

  “You don't know how crazy he was about her.”

  I look at Kim with disdain.

  “I know very well.”

  “Blimey! Now I'm sure Elliott is at rock bottom.”

  It makes me worry even though my boss is unbearable. The last days after Milan have been terrible. He is thicker, impatient and executioner. I remember his disgusting countenance all the time. I do not see him smile anymore, not even when something is very good.

  The last person I saw his contact was a reporter. He could trample her! I feel awful close to it, especially when he looks at me superiority or clicks her tongue when I next move and breathe troubled background. Oh, I hate that man!

  “Has he ever been a good person?”

  She frowns, looks at me like I am from another world.

  “Elliott is a good person, but he's going through a bad phase.”

  I smile as I listen to Kim. I know what she means.

  “So he's terrible, but it's worse. He must be a lost cause.”

  “No, Liz! He is not a lost cause no one is.”

  It reminds me of my past and I am sure there are lost causes.

  “Alright, Kim. We can talk about something other than Mr. Pollentier.”

  She shows me her right hand as if reproaching me.

  “That man is arrogant and thinks himself better than anyone because he is. But he was still a good person until his father died without any beauty. Do you know Anthony died of pancreatic cancer? That family has been in a difficult situation in recent months and now Elliott is the family man. He didn't want to be the editor-in-chief but took responsibility as a man. I see how hard he is trying, but this situation is killing him. This is very serious Liz, he can die.”