Aria F. POV (for now)
After we took our luggage from Washington's HQ, did all the necessary things to get us out of the country, we boarded the jet and was going back to the UK. This time, I was not sitting next to Armani but was sitting next to Valerio. It seems he made sure that would happen.

Across the aisle, I felt quite sorry for Armani as she had to sit next to Libby and they loathe each other. We both shared sympathetic looks just before we were told to strap in and the jet took off. While I stared out of the window blankly, from the corner to my eye, I could see Valerio shift in his seat turning in my direction. I could tell he wanted me to answer a pending question of his but I continued to ignore him and all he was looking at was the back of my head.

"Aria," He called me once again, I tore my view away from the window and took my phone sending an untraceable message to Armani, help me. Instantly she replied, I'm the one who needs help... anyway, what do you need help with?

"Aria, why are you ignoring me?" Asked Valerio, saying it over and over again annoying me.

"Wait," I told him putting my head up as he leaned in closer briefly to see what I was doing on my phone. Then I replied back to Armani, I think Valerio is going to ask me whether I'm going to stay at yours or his. What should I do?!

It's up to you, honestly. It's your call, she replied, but are you telling me that you are considering accepting his offer? Seriously, it's a great idea...it may melt Libby's ego and boil her jealousy. She's great at taking away stuff that people already have.

And how do you know that? I text back.

She joined after you... Well, left. According to rumours, she was bullied in her old school for having an irregular jaw, but because her parents are hella rich, she had surgery and in a matter of months, she was popular - that viper!

OK, OK. Tell me later. I need to tell you something before you can tell me how I should answer Valerio.

OK, tell me then, from across the aisle she was looking at the phone eagerly awaiting my reply.

He gave me a diary saying it's got all the answers to my questions or something like that and I don't buy the story of him getting it from the Mansion. I know there's more to this story.

There must be, she replied again, say yes! You love to question everything - you must find out! I think he wants you to know either way.

Ok thanks so much, which was the last message I sent her, you're the best friend I can always count on.

Thank you

I then turned to Valerio who was on his phone which he was just turning off so I have his full attention.

"You're finally done texting Armani?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"What do you think?" I gave him an amused look, then diverted my gaze just to look elsewhere.

Then there was an awkward silence before Valerio asked, "So... are you going to Scotland or stay with me for the weekend? What do you prefer?"

"Stay with you for the weekend. I got some pending questions to ask you."

"Oh?" a grin formed on his face - quite dashing as usual, "you may benefit from staying with me, you know."

"Likewise," I said with a small smile and I went back to staring blankly out the window.

I heard him sigh and for the rest of the journey, it was lacking... conversation.

********

After getting out from the UK border check, we were yet again outside the London City Airport. Elmer told us that there'll be a car for each of us to take us home. In my case, I'm going with Valerio (which Elmer was aware) so he gave us training tasks to do. Great, I rolled my eyes behind his back which Valerio saw and we exchanged smiles - me giving him a weak one in return.

Here goes nothing, I tell myself as I did not know what he would gain from this nor did I know his goal, but I must find out about this diary and how this relates to me, seriously...

The journey to where he lives was not too far as I checked from the GPS on my phone. The distance away from Gal's house was far enough that there'll be a very slim chance of us bumping into each other - should I go out. Brushing that thought aside, I got out of the car and looked up at the building or what they used to call it the skyscraper it makes sense because it's so tall you can't see the top of it.

Valerio then came along handing me my luggage, looked at my awe stricken face and said, "Shocked for the second time aren't you?"

I looked at him and whispered, "Yes."

"Let's go in,"

Another thing that amazed me was how he got into the building in the first place: by using his phone as the key. This caused me to raise an eyebrow allowing a smug grin to form on his face and the heavy metal door swung open. It closed as we entered. My gaze was taken away from the door as Valerio steered me, with my luggage, towards a lift and I cringed as soon as I saw it.

"What floor do you live on?" I asked warily.

"25. Why?" he asked as if he didn't know.

I gave him a blank look as we entered.

"Oh, yes. Right, you're scared of elevators," I rolled my eyes, "I should've known that." He added ironically.

"Or maybe you know more than that," I mumbled as the lift lurched upward.

"Sorry? I thought you said something." Valerio said as if he didn't hear me in an amused tone.

"Nothing," I told him as I looked at the screen showing us the floor we were currently on - which was floor 19.

It was not long before we reached floor 25 and the lift doors slid open to reveal a corridor that was not very long when we exit. It was decent looking, in terms of its colours, it was not bleak like the outside but it was a compilation of warm colours giving it a cosy home feeling.

We reached the door of his apartment which was made of traditional wood but it had good security from the inside of the apartment as it has bolts that could only be unlocked with encrypted algorithms. So cool, I thought.

"I see you are very observant." Said Valerio causing me to look from the door to him.

"I need to know the place where I'll be staying for 2-3 days."

"Touche." he agreed as he freed my luggage from my hands and carried them up the floating staircase. It was actually not floating; being supported in the middle by a wooden beam.

While he was gone, I continued admiring the place. It was very modern: the floor was made from marble tiles, the wallpaper was modern Scandinavian, the windows were large so that you have the full view of London. Screens were everywhere, under the staircase, in the kitchen, obviously in the living room, in his room and the spare room.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" he asked.

I just looked at him as I plopped down on the sofa - it's colour complimented its surroundings. I took my time to say, "let's not do that."

He asked as he sat next to me, "Then, what should we do?"

"Well, I suspect you need to answer some pending questions of mine."

"What about?"

"The diary."

"Oh," he murmured lost in thought, then his eyes lit up, "Do you remember living in a.... mansion?"

"Nope," I replied staring at my thumbs.

Then I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and took it out. I saw a message from Elmer and when I looked up, I could see that Valerio saw the message too which he read, "In order for Aria to be ready for future missions, she may require extra training for the weekend with Valerio Ungaro at 16.30pm."

"What's the time now?" I asked.

"16.10." He replied.

"Well then, we must leave."

*****

We were back in Peckham in that disguised Victorian building, but this time, we were on another floor of the underground labyrinth.

As we exit the lift, I was greeted with a huge room, with a high ceiling, which was as big as two football stadiums, full of obstacles for motorcycles - and other vehicles - to overcome. To our right, there was a row of them, but they weren't what we consider ordinary in this era, in fact, I never saw a model like this before. I thought out loud.

Valerio asked, "Do you want to try it out?"

"Do you think I know how to ride a bike?"

As we were walking away from the lift, Valerio showed me on his phone, "Well, according to your history, you learnt how to ride one when you were 16 - your mum's aunt even taught you when you were 12 when your mum was alive."

"How do you know that? Besides, was that even legal?" I asked him staring at the bikes.

"Prove yourself, try and see. Get a bike." He gestured to one.

I walked over to the nearest one, which they all looked identical, and mounted the bike. I revved the engine once I touched the handle feeling the low rumble noticing it was hybrid and I was impressed. I looked over to Valerio who was also on one and with a grin he asked, "Are you ready?"

"I don't know, but are you suggesting we're racing each other?"

"Maybe. It's good though because you'll either be chased or you'll be the one chasing in the future."

"And I'm chasing you?" I smiled to myself, "I would be fun."

"If that's so, I'm already ahead of you." And before I was aware, he was gone down the somewhat steep tar hill.

I closed my eyes briefly, tightened my grip and removed my feet from the ground. At first, I was struggling with my balance as I went down the hill, but as soon as I saw Valerio ahead... forget about it, I was flying. I enjoyed the breeze that was whipping my hair, how every time as a hill unexpectedly appears and as I go down, my stomach goes with it. It was an amazing experience.

That time, I had a feeling that Valerio knows more about me than myself. From then on, I went to him for answers.