My phone buzzed, signaling that Luca had arrived to pick me up.

When I saw Luca waiting for me, I felt overjoyed. He wasn't wearing his chauffeur's uniform but instead, I had asked him to wear a formal outfit. Luca had chosen a smart grey suit with a bowtie, and he had accessorized it with a large pink rose on his breast pocket.

"Looking very dapper, Luca," I complimented him.

A pleased smile graced Luca's lips as he acknowledged my words.

"You matched my wife's color. She wore green as well, but lighter than yours."

"Sage Green?" I asked.

"Eh, yeah some green." He shrugged. I could not stop but laugh at his confused yet sweet expressions.

I wore a dark, velvety green wrap-around cocktail dress, paired with matching golden heels and a golden clutch. I added golden accessories and applied green-blue and golden eyeshadow, finishing the look with a nude lip. Instead of curling my hair, I applied some gel to give it a wet, sleek appearance.

This outfit represents my fierce and confident style. If I were a queen, this would be my battle attire. – sexy, alluring yet formidable.

Luca's wife was like the embodiment of the sweetness of strawberries. She had curly brown hair that had started to turn white and was slightly shorter than me. She was wearing a lemon-green maxi dress.

For dinner, Dante prepared a special feast that included fish, polenta, lemon-lobster pasta, and, of course, his famous lasagna. To accommodate my dietary preferences, Dante had thoughtfully used halal beef to create the lasagna.

The dinner we had was delightful, and to my surprise, the lady who served us was actually Dante's mother. I felt a bit remorseful during the car ride back home for not bringing a gift for her. Fortunately, Luca had previously informed me about Dante's mother, saving me from any embarrassment. I managed to find a lovely scarf for her at a nearby shop. When I presented the pink tie to Luca, he was almost moved to tears. He quickly replaced his bowtie with the new one and had his wife, Gianna, help him tie it. The pink tie complemented his grey suit and pink flower perfectly. Gianna was also appreciative of the scarf I had given her, and she brushed her fingers over it, appreciating its beauty.

As we all sat around the round table, including Gianna, Luca, Dante in his chef attire, Dante's mother, and myself, I couldn't help but observe the elderly couple from a perspective I had never experienced before, and one I might never encounter again. The sheer happiness they derived from the modest gifts I had given them filled me with immense joy. Small gestures have the power to bring so much happiness. It made me reflect on my own family. Due to my grandparents' strained relationships with my parents, I had never bought anything for them. Consequently, we were never close, and I rarely had the opportunity to see all four of my grandparents.

But making Luca and Gianna happy made my heart flutter with glee.

I saw my joy also stroked little Kaya inside me and made her a bit happy.

Unfortunately, Dante's tie did not turn out as expected. When I gave it to him, he appeared quite confused. Dante was a man of considerable height, standing at over six feet, with a portly belly, a thick mustache, and bushy eyebrows. Given his appearance, red was the safest color for the tie. However, it turned out that Dante rarely ever wore formal clothing, especially shirts that required a tie.

Gianna said something to Dante in Italian, and he responded with hearty laughter, replying in Italian as well. I turned to Luca and asked him to translate the conversation for me.

"She said to Dante to wear the tie to your wedding, Dante replied that Gianni must give Dante a suit to wear that would match a tie."

"What if we are not invited to her wedding?" Dante asked Luca.

"Oh, I'll invite you, if I ever get married," I replied clumsily.

"He no asks you to marry?" Dante's mom asked in her broken English. I looked at everyone, everyone looked at me with anticipation about very vital information about my love life.

"I am single." I declared.

Everyone seemed astonished and sad. Sad that I was 30 and single.

"Aye-yeah Mia Cara, I find a boy for you. Handsome sweet sexy boy." Dante's mom replied with some funny gesture she made with her wrinkly hands. I started to laugh at her.

"I find you a sexy boy," she continued, "You get married here. Dante will cook at your wedding."

"Where will we have the wedding?" I asked jokingly.

"Oh, I have a large garden, and we grow many vegetables there. You two should get married there. I'll even be the father of your wedding," Luca said with a grin. His wife burst into laughter at the idea.

"You mean the officiant?" I asked.

"Yeah, whatever. My biggest dream was to be an officiator, to marry people off. I love seeing people in love." He winked. Gianni said something in Italian. Luca turned to me and replied,

"My wife says she will make her famous limoncello cake at your wedding."

I sighed. "All we need is a groom now." I could not wait enough to get married to someone at someone else's vegetable garden pad in their backyard. 

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The night ended around 1 a.m., with everyone enjoying Aperol spritz, while I sipped on Coca-Cola. Luca refrained from drinking as it was against his contract to consume alcohol while on duty with in-hotel guests.

After I returned to my room, I undressed and took a relaxing shower. I then ordered a cup of coffee from room service. Once it was delivered, I wrapped myself in a white bathrobe and tucked my hair under a towel. My room was located on the second floor, and I had a view of the garden, which had been beautifully illuminated for the past few nights. However, on this particular night, all the lights in the garden, patio, and rooftop were turned off. My side of the hotel was shrouded in darkness, and I couldn't see any visible structures in the distance.

It was a New moon.

The moonless night, had only the faintest hint of stars in the sky.

I called the lobby to inquire about the sudden darkness.

"Why are the lights off?" I couldn't help but feel a bit scared. Although Julia had reassured me earlier that this was one of the safest areas on Earth, I had never been particularly comfortable in the dark, and my anxiety was starting to creep in.

The individual on the other end of the phone let out a deep breath, suggesting that I wasn't the only one who inquired about this situation. "Madam, you may have heard that our chairman is currently staying here for business purposes. He has requested a reduction in light pollution and has encouraged all the guests who have not yet gone to bed to enjoy the starry night tonight," he explained, sounding quite frustrated himself.

"Excuse me, WHAT?"Was the chairman a 10-year-old kid?

The individual on the other end of the phone released a deep sigh, this time with more frustration. "Ma'am, we are only following orders. Maybe you could take a moment to appreciate the view. Mr. Volkner has instructed us to enjoy the reflection of the stars in the lake," he explained.

I wanted to ask him, Is your chairman crazy? Is Mr. Volkner a child? But I did not. I cut the phone off without saying a word.

But curiosity got the best of me. I switched off all the lights and stepped out onto the balcony.

He was right. The sky was incredibly clear, and I could see the stars of the Milky Way stretching across the heavens. Then, I noticed their reflection in the tranquil waters of Lake Como.

I gasped. For a moment, it felt like I was floating in the vast universe, with the mountains on the horizon as the only obstacles against the night sky.

It occurred to me: what if I took a boat to the middle of the lake? But could I even row a boat? The thought puzzled me.

Lost in my contemplation, I suddenly saw it.

A single boat glided gracefully over the water at a distance. Two figures sat in the boat, their faces were intangible in the darkness. The distant murmur of their laughter and playful banter reached my ears like a sweet serenade. At that moment, I felt an unfamiliar twinge in my heart—a flicker of romance, a pang of longing that I had never known could exist.

It was the age-old ache of wanting to belong to someone, the yearning for a connection that exceeded mortal existence. I found myself yearning for something I had never truly experienced—a love so profound it would make me feel seen, cherished, and truly cared for.

I had always watched lovers with a hint of envy, secretly wishing that I, too, could be swept up in the waves of love. I silently prayed that someday, I might be fortunate enough to be loved by someone, to be desired and cherished in a way that defied all logic and reason. I wish I were important enough for someone to love, to be cherished, and to be adorned.

As I stood by the tranquil lake, the sound of laughter reached my ears. It was a beautiful melody of love and joy. I realized that the people in the boat were probably the enigmatic owners of the hotel, the Volkners. They seemed to be lost in the serene darkness, surrounded by stars, and connected to each other in a way that was palpable even from where I stood.

And, as I watched their happiness, I couldn't help but feel a warmth spread within me. There was a time when such scenes would have brought tears to my eyes, reminding me of the love I had yet to find. However, as I grew older and wiser, I came to terms with the likelihood that I may never find a love that could fully embrace my scars and traumas. Instead, I have learned to love myself boundlessly.

During that peaceful night, I came to terms with the possibility of aging without a lover. I realized that when that time arrives, I will be happy and satisfied, taking comfort in the love I have for myself and the experiences I have had in my life.

As I entered my room, I was reminded of the beautiful gifts that were placed there, accompanied by red roses. However, as planned, I threw those roses away in a moment of frustration, hurling them off the balcony into the darkness. The only response was the faint cries of a few cats, maybe sitting below my balconies. Strangely, this encounter with the feline inhabitants and their reaction of the night had brought me an unexplainable sense of happiness.

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I woke up on the second-to-last day of my vacation, knowing that my flight to London was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Julia was off today, as it was her weekly holiday, and Mila had an exam in the morning. I had invited Julia for a boat ride in the evening.

However, I realized with a start that I had missed the complimentary breakfast. I felt groggy and tired, probably due to the late-night fun and engaging conversations with people I never thought I would meet again.

During those conversations, I poured my heart out, but I kept all my past secrets hidden. I spent two hours stargazing before finally going back to sleep at almost 3 a.m.

Today, I planned to give Julia her gift. I had already given the scarf to Bianca yesterday. But for Julia's daughter, Mila, I needed to buy something special. Although there were some gift shops at the hotel's entrance, I had always assumed they would be expensive since they were in-hotel vendors, and boarders often purchased gifts from them.

After getting ready, I headed to the bakery, where I had an encounter with the manager, who quickly ducked behind the counter, trying to avoid me. I chuckled at my own expense and felt a twinge of sadness. I had clearly frightened the shit out of him that day, and part of me was beginning to feel sorry for him. Perhaps I should have used the roses in my room to send a bouquet as an apology, but then I remembered I had yanked my bouquets away from my balcony last night.

At the bakery, I ordered a beef salami sandwich made of ciabatta and took it as a carry-on. With a huge bite of my sandwich, I started to walk towards the gift shops.

Umm! The sandwich was lovely. It had a buttery, salty-sweet crunch from the ciabatta. The fresh tomatoes, herbs, and olives added a creamy texture, and the handmade mayonnaise made it even better. I knew I had to order another one as soon as I finished the first.

While hanging out in the hotel courtyard, I noticed a few jewelry shops. Knowing my love for jewelry, I was immediately drawn to one that was selling pearl items. Although I was never into pearls, I decided to give it a try. However, since I had already exceeded my budget for the trip, I hoped to find some gifts for Mila that were within my budget.

As I walked through the displays, I realized that pearls weren't my cup of tea. I preferred shiny things, and pearls didn't fit the bill. Nonetheless, I was amazed by the variety of pearls that existed; and how they differed from country to country and ocean to ocean. While eating my sandwich, I discovered a blob of mayo in the center, which I hadn't expected. As I reached the center and took a bite, the mayo oozed out and smeared on the corners of my lips. I felt embarrassed, particularly with people around me in the shop. Some stared at me in disgust as I frantically searched on the counters, everywhere, for a tissue or napkin. Unfortunately, both of my hands were covered in sandwich crumbs and oily mayo, and even the wax paper that had wrapped the sandwich was greasy.

"I think this will help." A friendly female voice spoke to me from behind me. I turned to her.

She was the most gorgeous, absurdly beautiful woman I had ever seen.

It was difficult to guess her age, but she was definitely older than me. She stood almost 6 feet tall, while I was only 5 feet and 6 inches. Her hair was dirty blonde, cut in a shoulder-length bob with a lovely, messy bang that covered her brows. She had grey eyes and mischievous, awe-struck lips. Her broad shoulders made her appear larger than me, and she was dressed in a regal black sheath dress that accentuated her curves.

I couldn't help but keep looking at her. She had a wet tissue in her right hand and offered it to me. I stumbled to take it from her, so she came forward, gently lifted my chin with her left palm, and started to wipe the corners of my lips with a wicked grin.

"Thank you," I mumbled in response. She continued to stare at me with her awed gaze and that grin that was both lovely and intimidating. It felt as if she could see right through me; as if she could peer directly into my soul.

"You're even more beautiful than I imagined, girl!" she whispered under her breath, leaving me flabbergasted by her compliments.

"Th-Thank you! You're the most stunning woman I've ever seen!" I babbled, attempting to return the compliment. I wasn't lying; I genuinely meant it.

Another crooked smile graced her face, revealing her perfect, pearly-white teeth. She shook her head slightly and whispered, "Now I see it," before letting out a small, silent laugh. Her smile was utterly captivating.

"Sorry?" I said, puzzled. This caused her to tilt her head slightly.

"Ah, nothing," she replied, her gaze still fixed on my face. "Enjoy your vacation," she added, patting my left shoulder before walking away. I couldn't help but continue to stare in her direction. Just before leaving the shop, she paused for a moment, turned back, and glanced at me one last time.

Then, she bestowed upon me her devilishly beautiful smile.

I was left feeling bewildered by this. Something was happening behind my back, and I could feel it coursing through my veins.

__________________________________________________________

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Julia appeared stunning in her lavender bralette, which she paired with a matching pencil skirt. Despite being in her mid-forties, she exuded the confidence and allure of a woman in her twenties. While reclining on her back, she propped herself up with her palms and hips. Her chic appearance was further accentuated by her sunglasses.

As I watched her take a sip of Champagne, I realized I had forgotten to mention my preference for non-alcoholic drinks. The bottle she had brought as a gift was now for her own enjoyment. As we sailed on the Lucia, we enjoyed the gentle sway of the waves while basking in the sun. The hotel had strict dress codes that prohibited wearing bikinis when not swimming.

"So," Julia began, lowering her wineglass, "what has been the highlight of your trip?"

I nervously laughed, initially thinking that sightseeing was my only option. But as I reflected, I realized it was the people I met here who left an indelible mark on me.

"Meeting people, lots of them. Especially you and Luca. And getting to know Dante," I replied, nodding. A warm smile graced Julia's face as she turned to me.

"And?" she prodded, resting her head on one of her palms.

At that moment, a memory flashed before my eyes, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Can I share something with you?" I asked Julia, seeking her attention. She nodded, encouraging me to go on.

"I think I've come across the most stunning guy ever during this trip," I admitted.

Julia let out a playful groan, "Really? What's he like?"

"He's incredibly handsome, I mean like out-of-this-world handsome. I've never seen anyone quite like him. He has this chiseled jawline, high cheekbones, and the most perfect lips. And his eyes, Julia, his eyes are absolutely something to die for!! I can't even find the right words to describe them. He's tall, and incredibly hot, and his voice, oh my, it's deep and ridiculously sexy. Trust me, he outshines any fictional or real-life celebrities or models I've ever seen! But I have seen him, maybe only for a few minutes!"

"What color are his eyes?" Julia asked, her curiosity piqued. I gazed at the sky, searching for the perfect comparison.

"Have you ever seen Prussian blue? It's like a deep blue with a hint of violet. His eyes are that shade. They're so glossy, like all the stars are shining in his eyes." As I spoke, I found myself getting lost in the memory, flashes of his face flickering in my mind.

I thought Julia might tease me, but she remained surprisingly expressionless.

"Is he Italian?" she asked cautiously.

"I don't think so," I replied.

"Where did you meet him?" Julia inquired further.

"Some local goons were harassing me, and he, along with one of his friends, helped me get rid of them," I explained.

Julia stared at me without any expression for exactly three minutes. Then she shook her head, downed her glass of Champagne in one gulp, refilled it to the brim, and emptied it once more, all while looking up at the sky.

I became confused.

Then, to my surprise, she burst into hysterical laughter while continuing to gaze at the sky.

"What happened?" I asked. She shook her head vigorously,

"Nothing... ah. Ignore it." She wanted to shove the topic away. I insisted,

"What?" I yelled at her. She looked at me through her black sunglasses.

"I thought you were lesbian!" Julia told me.

"What! No!" I yelled at her. Though being lesbian would have solved 90% of problems in any woman's life, I was sadly not a lesbian.

"Why do you think I was gay?" I asked.

"You never flirt with any men here," she admitted. I laughed at her. I was exemplary at flirting with men. I was just not interested in flirting with men here.

"If I flirted with any of these old rich blokes, they would think I was begging them to be their sugar babies. Which I was not. I have no interest in sucking some micro-dick for money. I can earn mine. I am a trainee surgeon, my friend!"

"So, you don't like sucking them? Are you like.....asexual? Is this what they call it? People who don't like sex?" she asked. The trauma of my childhood washed away for a few seconds with Julia's suspicion of my sexuality.

"I'm not asexual! I am very sexual! I just don't like men. I mean, I don't hate them, I just do not like them, either. I just don't think they are a necessity of my life!" I spoke.

"Then, what do you do when you are, you know, horny?" Julia was curious.

I inhaled deeply. I could not believe I was explaining my sex life to a woman I just met 5 days ago.

"Have you heard of toys? Sex-toys?" I asked her.

Julia nodded her head. And she started to giggle like a kid.

"Better than dealing with someone else's child that comes with a cock!" she said, followed by a giggle. It took me a minute to understand what she meant, then I started laughing.

".... Ahhh I hate taking care of mother-in-law's man-baby!" she replied to my confusion after a hefty laugh.

I gave Julia a high-five, sharing in the laughter. Thankfully, our boatman was far enough away not to hear our conversation.

Then, a memory surfaced in my mind, and I decided to ask Julia a question.

"Do you know every guest here well enough that if I describe someone, you'd be able to tell me who they are?"

She nodded in response. I proceeded to tell her about the intriguing woman I had encountered earlier today. She lowered her glasses and looked at me,

"You met Mrs.Volkner? Maria Volkner? The Volkner Matriarch? The Volkner Hawk? Maria came to you and talked to you herself? Are you joking?" She was baffled.

"Why should I lie to you?" My heart missed it a bit.

"It's easier to talk to The British King than talking to Maria Volkner," Julia added.

"Why?" I asked.

"She does not talk to anyone without security giving her clearance about talking to someone. Volkners are like ghosts!"

"Why?" I asked.

"Babe, they are rich as fuck. They need a lot of security. Otherwise...shit happens to them." Julia added. I was chewing on some raw almonds and asked her.

"What happened? Why is everyone in her family so obsessed with security?"

Julia sighed.

"Look, I don't know much about their shit, but they have lost a lot due to security issues." She explained.

"Why? Are they into the Mafia or Underworld? Are they a Gang?" I asked.

Julia laughed at me while reaching for my almond stacks.

"A Volkner will never touch blood money, let alone do business with it. I mean, directly, of course, they won't handle any money that has innocent blood on it. That's why they are so powerful. They maintain strong ethical standards in their business dealings. Everyone trusts them blindly, and they are one of the oldest business families in the world," Julia explained, then turned her head to the palace like hotel in the distance.

"I started working here after my graduation 20 years ago, and since that day, I have never seen anyone receive their pay on the 2nd day of the month. Every single employee gets their salary and bonuses on the first day of the month. It's the same everywhere in the Volkner Group. They always prioritize their employees above everything, at least in the hotel business, from what I've seen," Julia continued. "But I've heard that Volkner employees rarely want to leave the group unless they are forced out."

"......Do you see the guests in our hotels? Most of them are Volkner's partners. They prefer going on vacations to Volkner hotels to going to their own vacation homes. People who do business with them trust Volkners blindly." Julia added. I felt her grimness.

We sat on the boat in silence for a few minutes, swaying gently with the small waves.

"What sort of losses did they have?" I asked after that quiet... Julia looked at me for a moment, then contemplated whether she should tell me anything or not, and sighed in depression.

"... look, when you do clean business with one hand, your other hand will get dirty. If you don't deal with someone else's blood-stained money, you'll end up handling the stains of your own blood. And the Volkners run an empire that can't even be expressed in billions. Their wealth is beyond human comprehension. So, there's bound to be a lot of blood, some of it their own. That's precisely why they've invested in the highest level of security imaginable... So, they keep a low profile and avoid the media's attention as much as possible. They're like specters; everyone can sense their presence, but they remain invisible if they wish to."

Julia's explanation left me feeling as if the air had grown heavier around me. Perhaps I appeared too bewildered, and anxious. She tried to reassure me,

"They're not part of the Mafia or any shady business. They're genuinely kind, sweet, like peaches. You saw how nice Maria was to you, right?"

I nodded. I felt like something was choking me. The air felt heavier. A low, buzzing hum started to play inside my head.

"You know Maria personally?" I asked.

Julia looked at me through her sunglasses.

"The year I started working here, Maria got married to Royce. This place was their wedding venue. It was almost 20 years ago."

I gasped and looked at the beautiful palace in the distance. I realized why that whole place had such a romantic vibe.

"That's why they always come here?" I asked.

"Maria is Italian." Julia kept her answer short. That meant Royce was Swiss.

"Do they have kids?" I was curious.

Julia stared at me again. Then she sighed,

"Royce has a son with his first wife. Not with Maria."

I looked at her. I was so fucking curious.

"What happened to his first wife? Are they divorced? Why didn't he and Maria take a child?" I asked; my desi brain was calculating their family trees. Julia slammed her glass on the deck of the boat and said,

"I don't know much, but it's sensitive."

"No, Julia, tell me, please!" I begged her.

"Look, they are like my friends. I don't like to talk about their sensitive issues with others. Even if they were not Volkners, I would not talk about it." She sounded very offended.

I was confused. I didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry." I meant it. Julia shrugged her anger away.

"No, Mio Amore I am sorry. I have known them for a long time. I have seen their struggles firsthand. And they are so nice, I feel like they do not deserve all these dramas and deaths in their lives. So, I feel like I should protect them as much as I can. As a friend, as an employee." Julia confessed.

"My curiosity got the best of me," I confessed too.

"No, it's alright. When you meet them, you can ask them about themselves. They will tell you everything, no worries."

"Who, me?" I asked with confusion, "Why would they want to meet me?"

Julia gave me a meaningful stare. I couldn't decode it.

"Oh, you'll meet them very soon."

"How do you know? Did they tell you anything like meeting me or something?" I asked frantically, fearing their powerful existence. I knew I had to stay away from them, as power brings chaos, and I do not want chaos in my life.

Powerful men took my innocence away once.

"No, they told me nothing. But you know what? I am an old gypsy witch, and I can see your future."

Julia winked at me while I gave her a confused, angsty stare.