Chapter 11

(Marcus) I can't imagine why the car didn't work. I have fixed it and checked it twice. I felt so embarrassed in front of Mister Collin and Vivien. I probably looked like somebody who doesn't take their job seriously but I didn't know what happened.

A few hours after we arrived at the hotel and ate Mister Collin called me in his room. He calmly sat on his chair and told me to sit too. He was trying so hard to hide his anger.

-Marcus, what happened today?

-I don't know sir; I swear I checked that car properly.

-Well, if you checked it could you explain to me why did it stop?

-Because it was out of fuel.

-Don't act smart with me kid! Whose fault was it that it went out of fuel?!

-I guess mine.

-Of course yours! How did you check it?

-Like I usually do; a full, careful check.

-Why didn't you stop somewhere if you saw that the car was running out of gas?

-Because I didn't see. The gas meter was showing a normal amount.

-So you are telling me that the second time not only the car was still losing fuel but the gas meter was broken too?

…

-Marcus, are you trying to sabotage us? To keep us stranded here? Is there a particular reason you didn't want us to arrive at our destination?

-No, of course not sir.

-Then can you explain me how after your last checks the car was even worse than before?!

-No sir, I can't.

-I will be tolerant with you this time since it's your first mistake, but this better not happen again.

-No sir, it won't happen again.

-Good. Tomorrow I want you to call a mechanic to fix the car. It better be fixed before noon or I will cut your salary, understood?

-Yes sir.

-Perfect. You can go now, I want to rest.

-Yes. Goodnight sir.

-Goodnight.

My heart was rapidly pounding in my chest. I was so nervous after this talk; I thought he would fire me. I really needed the money I was gaining this year for my college fee. I was sweating so bad I could barely control myself to stay calm.

I went to my room and lied in bed. I was trying to calm my nerves and think of solutions. I have no idea if that car could be fixed by noon but I had to try. I also didn't know any mechanics; maybe the hotel manager could help me with that. We will be lucky if we get to spend at least 2 hours in that city and it will be a miracle if I will get to keep my job after this.

I woke up at 5 and got down. No one was awake but I couldn't sleep anymore. I felt like every minute I spent in that bed was bringing me closer to the possibility of losing my job. I went to the car, Mister Collin ordered me to not repair it, to call someone else but the curiosity was killing me. What was wrong with this car? My grandpa taught me everything there's needed to know and he was a mechanic himself. I knew what I was doing, so why did the car break down again?

After 2 hours of working at it I was even more confused than before. The car had the exact same problem as before, like I never fixed it the first time. I was staying beside the car when David, the hotel manager, came.

-Looks like you're a bit stuck, ay?

I looked at where I was staying, my legs were still under the car but my upper part was fixed right beside it. I laughed and I got up from there.

-This car is more stuck than I am.

-You didn't find any way to fix it?

-I did, what confuses me more is how the problem appeared plus I have orders.

-Orders?

-My boss ordered me to not fix the car.

-You know, if you need someone I know a boy.

-Really?

-Yes, I can call him if you want.

-I would be very grateful for that sir.

-Haha, call me Dave. No need for the formalities. Imma go and ring him now.

Surprisingly, the boy Dave was talking about was available at that hour. He said we were very lucky to catch him before his first client, at 8:30. He was 20 minutes away and it took him around 40 minutes to repair the car. He even said that I did a very good job in fixing it; he was as confused as I was about what happened. By 8:00 the car was ready to go. Another shred of luck was that Dave mentioned to him that we are out of gas. He brought some gas for the car, it wasn't much but he said it was going to be enough until we get to a gas station.

I went up and quickly took a shower so I won't be dirty of fuel and then waited for Mister Collin and Miss Vivien to wake up downstairs. I didn't have to wait too much; it was 9:30 when Mister Collin went down to the cafeteria to take his morning coffee.

-Good morning, sir.

-Good morning, Marcus.

-The car is ready to go whenever you are ready, sir.

He stopped and turned towards me, I could see the confusion on his face. What I said took him by surprise.

-Is it repaired?

-Yes, sir.

-By a real mechanic not by you?

-Yes, sir.

-Already?

-Yes, sir.

He blinked a few times then took a sip from his coffee.

-Good. We will wait for Vivien to wake up and then will leave immediately.

-Yes, sir.

We didn't have to wait too long, Vivien got down at 10:00 and by 10:30 we were already gone. It took us exactly one hour to get to the city. It was 11:30 when we entered the city and 12:00 when we were unpacking our things at the hotel.

I was putting my bags away in my room when I heard a firm, strong knock on my door.

-Yes?

-Marcus, how good that you are not busy. Look, because of your efficacy we arrived in time for my business meeting so I will forget about this incident.

-Thank you sir.

-But I hope it won't happen again.

-Of course not sir.

-Good. Oh, and one more thing. You will spend the day with Vivien, of course. She wants to go into the city; do you know this city at all?

-No, not really sir.

-Well, take care of her anyway and be home by 10 PM. I don't want her to roam around an unknown city too late.

-Yes, sir.

I continued to order my things after Mister Collin left and then I decided to go to Vivien to ask her what she wanted to do. I hurried to her door and knocked but there was no answer. I waited a few minutes and knocked again but still no answer. I was getting worried that she wasn't answering so I entered. I scanned the room but there was no trace of Vivien. I looked one more time and I saw the bathroom door opening, from it came out Vivien, wearing nothing but a towel, trying to wipe her wet blond hair with another towel. I just stared at her shocked but I immediately turned around when her eyes were raised and met mine.

-Omg! What are you doing in my room?!

-I am sorry Miss, I didn't mean to…I came to…uh…ask if you…

-Did you even knock?!

-I did…but…uh…you didn't answer.

-So you decided to just enter?!

-Yes…I'm sorry…I'll go out now…

I got to the door and went out as fast as I could. I went to my room, with her image still in my mind. The drops of water going down her body, her arms, her natural face. Her brown chocolate eyes fixed on the ground, lost in her own thoughts. Her hands going up and down her blond hair switched on one side trying to dry it out. Why couldn't I take her picture out of my mind? The white towel surrounding her tiny body, only if she dropped it…no, this is wrong. I can't think about her this way. One knock on my door saved me from those thoughts.

-Yes?

-Hey.

-Miss, I am sorry that I entered without your permission, I thought…

-I know. It's okay.

-Really? Thank you.

-And don't call me "Miss".

-Yes, sure, sorry.

-What did you want to ask me?

-Pardon?

-When you entered my room, you said you wanted to ask me something.

-Oh, yeah. Your father told me that you wanted to go into the city. I was going to ask when you wish to do that.

-Oh, yeah. Well, be ready in one hour.

-Yes, Mi…Vivien.

I was ready even before that hour passed, but I decided not to go to Vivien's room again. Instead, I went down and explored the hotel a little bit. It was a 5 star hotel with everything a rich person could possibly ask for. I looked at the huge gym and the marvelous pool included in the building then I remembered the reason I was staying at this luxurious hotel.

I went back and waited outside Vivien's room. She came out 15 minutes after I arrived there with a surprised look on her face. After a few minutes her expression changed and she started walking towards the exit. She looked like she forgot that I was actually at my job and remembered afterwards.

-Where do you want to go Miss?

-Vivien.

-I'm sorry.

-It's okay. I don't know. How about we just drive around the city like in the good old days?

I chuckled when I saw her jokingly smile.

-I am sorry, but I think your father took the car.

-What a shame. Call an uber then.

-Sure.

The uber took 15 minutes to arrive. She didn't tell the driver where she wanted to go. She just said she didn't know the city too well but wanted to be driven around it. The driver told her it may cost a lot but she didn't care, she just asked if it is possible for him to do that, he said yes.

We drove around for hours. We saw old, vintage buildings in contrast with new, modern fountains. The greenness of a never ending park was accompanying the active life from the streets, the roads. A bridge with ant cars going on could be seen far away from us, the water under it was trembling in powerful waves which were divided in millions of drops while splashing in the bridge.

I looked at Vivien, she was watching the views out of the window. Her long blond hair was peacefully falling on her sides, embracing her neck. Her hands were calmly placed on her crossed legs. I moved my eyes back to hers, they looked as lost as before. She was deeply engaged in her thoughts, barely seeing what was happening outside her mind.

I turned back to the window. Her picture reappeared in my head, the white towel, her confused expression, and the drops of water falling from her still wet hair. Why couldn't I forget her? That moment when I caught her after the shower was still hunting me, like it was stuck inside my mind.

-Can you stop here?

-Yes, Miss.

I looked outside the window, we were in the middle of nowhere.

-If you don't mind my question, why did we stop here?

-I want to take a walk.

It was 6 PM when we got out of the uber. We walked for two hours before returning to the hotel. At first we were both quiet, I could see the mixed emotions on her face, she was trying to seem peaceful and relaxed but truly she wasn't. What was bothering her?

-I think we should head back.

-Not now.

-What if we get lost?

-I know this city.

-Do you?

-Yes, my father always takes me here. He has most of his businesses here.

I could sense that she knew where she was going so I decided to trust her. I just relaxed and admired the views when I saw her stopping in front of a house. It was a big white house with a wood fence surrounding it. She was staring directly at the house, I thought I saw a tear on her pale face but she turned around quickly. I didn't dare to ask her why she stopped in front of the house, she looked so deep into herself.

-I think we should head back now.

-Do you know the road?

-Yes, of course.

I just followed her back. On the way back, I decided to create a conversation.

-So, do you like this city?

-Yes.

-Do you come here every time your father has a business meeting?

-Yes.

-Only here?

-Well, no. We have been to a few other cities too, but mostly here.

-Didn't you get bored of this city?

-I could never get bored of it.

-Really? How so?

-I don't know. There's something about it. But how about you?

-What do you mean?

-Do you like it?

-I guess so.

-Here.

-What?

-We arrived.

I looked and saw the hotel. We walked for like 20 minutes from that house to here. We entered the hotel and parted our ways to go to our rooms. We were supposed to leave early tomorrow so I decided to go directly to sleep. I ignored the screams announcing that dinner was ready and lied myself directly on the bed. My eyes were pointed at the ceiling, a million thoughts were running through my head before I could shut them all down. Blankly, I got up and went out in the hallway. My body was going on its own until it stopped in front of a door. My heart paced as I knocked.