I don’t need to consider anything about this place ever again.
Chapter 7
Professional Appearances
“Catarina?”
I slide in next to Mistress Vincenza and let my body collapse into the cushioned seating.
“Are you okay?”
I slowly nod my head.
She slowly palms the wheel. “We’re still heating up if you want… to talk?”
“I don’t have anything to say.” I shrug my shoulders. “...Thank you. For this. No one else would’ve ever thought to give me a chance anywhere.”
But, she didn’t give this out of her own preference, did she? Isn’t that why she’s frowning and unable to find words?
“Would you mind if I crawled in the back and laid down?”
“That’s completely unsafe, but you may.”
While I crawl into a resting position, she gets out to pull the roof over.
Still, this thing only has a front window. The side walls freely let cold night air in to harass me. Thin dress; beautiful dress.
Mistress Vincenza wordlessly pulls something out of the trunk, and lays it over me. I don’t think about what she means by it, just tuck the blanket around me.
Chapter 8
Consorting with Strangers
“Uh, Piero, we’re closing.”
He looks up from his comic. “I’m sure my sister’s fine with it.”
She yells from the desk, “I’m not. Get out.”
“Well, she’s not. Apparently,” I say.
“How cruel. Tell her I’m disappointed with the lack of hospitality,” he waxes with a chuckle while getting up.
I walk back to the front desk. “He said he’s disappointed.”
“I’m sure he is.” She pulls out an envelope and hands it over.
“The second stipend?”
“You’re allowed to open it and find out.”
I reach over to grab the knife from the drawer and unveil my prize: a card from Piero.
‘Congratulations on your first week!’ it reads. Between the text and the picture of a skeleton drinking an alcoholic beverage, he left me a gold plated necklace chain.
“What’s this for?” I ask while already pulling it over my neck.
“He couldn’t fit the watch into the envelope too. Here.”
