“No, that… that might be good,” she agreed.
“I’ll have to clear it with my boss, but I think Bianca will make sure I’m free to look after you.”
“Is your boss Adriano?” she asked.
“Yeah. Did Bianca tell you his name?”
“I met him. He’s a sweetheart.”
I stared at her in shock. “He’swhat?!”
“What?” she asked, confused.
“Nobody I know would call my boss a ‘sweetheart.’”
Emilia laughed. “Well, hedidseem a little gruff when he first came in, but he was really nice to me. And he was very complimentary.”
I raised one eyebrow. “Complimentary about…?”
“The dresses we were wearing.”
“Yeah, well, his wifediddesign them.”
“They’re amazing, though,” Emilia protested.
“No, they are, they are,” I agreed. “It’s just – I’m still in shock hearing you describe him as a ‘sweetheart.’ He’s more of a hothead and a ballbuster.”
She laughed. “Well, he was very charming.”
“As charming as me?”
“There you go again, fishing for compliments. But no… nobody’s as charming as you.”
I grinned. “Good.”
By that point, we had turned down a side street and reached an old apartment building.
“Well… this is me,” she said as she gestured at the gated front door.
“What time do you work tomorrow?”
“I have to open, so early – 6 AM.”
“I’ll be here at 5:45. Give me your number, and I’ll call you when I’m in front of your apartment so you know it’s safe to walk out.”
She told me her number. I immediately called her and heard her phone ring in her purse. Then I programmed her name into my phone.
“I’ll only call you when I’m out front – but you can callmeif you need me, day or night. I’m serious. If you’re afraid at 3 in the morning,call me.”
“…okay.”
“Are you going out again for the rest of the day?”
“No.”
“Do you have enough food?”
“Yes.”
