Chapter 1: Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Kyle Conti's POV

I sighed as the view of the Transylvanian Alps were coming into gorgeous view as my private jet landed into the private hangar of the airport in Cluj-Napoca. It was at the end of June with Summer was coming into Europe, hence, most of the tourists would love to go to the Alps. I needed to get the lodges to lock and loaded before the peak of the Summer season.

"Sir, we have landed," the pilot said to me as I got up from the seat. I nodded at him as I went outside the jet and looked around the hangar. I put on my sunglasses as the sun was burning my face and my eyes.

"thank you, captain, have a good the rest of your day," I said as I walked down the stairs. I can see that my personalized red Lamborghini was ready for me as the baggage handlers put all my luggage in the trunk and handed me the key.

"Mr. Conti," the valet said as I took the keys from him. I nodded at him as I went to the driver's seat. I started the ignition before sped off from the hangar and went into the city.

The city was full of life even though the city was literally burning under the sun heat of Summer. I was stopping at the traffic light as I watched a couple that was playing with their children. I smiled at the view as I remembered my own when my father and mother were still alive. The light turned green and the driver that was behind me was honking me.

"yeesh, relax will you," I said as I went onto my destination, The Conti Lodges. I turned right to get into the road that was leading into the forest as it was located at the outskirt of the city. I was driving into the lodges as I parked in front of the lodges. It was deserted as the tourist was not that peak at this time of year. I stopped in front of the office and turned off the ignition of my car.

"This place should be better after this," I said as I got out of my car. An old man was coming outside of the office as he came to greet me.

"Ah, Mr. Conti. So glad that you could make it," he said as he shook hands with me. I smiled at him as I recognized him from the file that the old man gave to me. It was Mr. Adam, the manager of the lodges.

"So, there's not a lot of business going on?" I asked as I looked around the lodges. There was some tourist that was getting into their car to get into the city for lunch, I assumed.

"well, there's a lot of competition around the city that the tourist loves more to go to. We were an old cabin in the woods that was recently have been attacked by the animals. The news spread quickly in this part of town," he said as I was walking around to see the courtyard and the lodges of a lumberjack. I mean, who wants to miss the opportunity to get into this cabin for once a lifetime experience.

"I need to get into one of the cabins," I asked the manager. He smiled.

"yes, sir. I already prepare the suite to your taste…" I held out my hand as I shook my head.

"no, I want to be in one of the ordinary cabins. I want to know what is missing in the cabin. From there, I can improve the services of the cabins," I said as I walked into the cabin number 13 that was near to the office.

"I'll be staying in that one," I pointed to the cabin as I looked at the manager. The blood on his face was saying something horrified that ever happened in the cabin.

"what's wrong?" I asked him as he shook his head.

"Nothing, sir. It just that it has never been anyone in the cabin after the incident," his talk piqued my interest.

"really? What happened?" I asked him. He shook his head as he looked at me that he did not want to talk about it.

"fine, but I will be staying there for 6 months during my stay here," I persisted. He just sighed before went urged me to go into the office to get the keys into the cabin.

"We did the best we can to clean the lodge up and it was…okay I guess, sir, for the 6 months of your stay," Mr. Adam said as he opened up the cabin. He opened the door and a chill runs through my spine. I looked around the lodge as it was okay. A queen bed, a door to the bathroom, a drawer for the clothes, tv and a tray of water for drinking. I can see something that needed some improvement.

I made a mental note to get a refrigerator. I went into the bathroom as I look at the shower and the toilet. It was okay. There was a sink and I opened the cabinet under the sink. There was no free toothbrush as well as soap and shampoo. I went out of the bathroom and asked Mr. Adam about the free stuff.

"most of the stuff we will put it in the cabin when there was a reservation. Since I don't think that you, sir, will be staying in this cabin, we did not prepare it," he said as I looked around. I rubbed my temples before looking at him.

"Okay, I want to look at the accounting and finance of the lodges for the last 10 years. I will need it tonight," I said as I looked around the lodges. There was no desk or chair. I made a mental note for that as well.

"actually do you know where to get food around here?" I asked as I looked at Mr. Adam. He smiled as I looked for a good place to eat.

I was driving into the city as I went to the Roata restaurant in Cluj-Napoca. It was a Romanian cuisine restaurant that has a reputation for being authentic. I obliged as I went to the restaurant. It was a quiet night as it was past lunchtime and almost dinner time. I shrugged as I went into the restaurant. It was casual and cozy as it can be. I smiled into the restaurant before a hostess greeted me.

"hi, table for one?" She asked in Romanian.

"Sorry, I don't speak Romanian, perhaps English or Italia?" I said in English.

"of course, sir. Wait here for a sec," she gestured to me as she still speaks Romanian before heading back into the kitchen. I waited for someone to come until the new waitress arrived and I was taken by her striking beauty.

She was wearing the traditional Romanian clothing as the previous hostess was but she made it like it was made out of gold. I can help to get my eyes from her body before she stood in front of me.

"Good evening, table for one?" She asked in Italian. I looked at her face and it was captivating.

Her eyes were so deep that it keeps me want to melt in her deep blue pool. Her hair was glossy as it moved past her back that she French braided it. Her smile with a dimple on her left cheek deepens as she smiled at me. She chuckled at me before clearing her throat.

"Are we going to stand here and gawking or do you want to eat?" She said as she looked at me. Blinded by her beauty, I blinked for a few times. Even her voice was as sweet as an angel.

"I'm hungry. Of course. I wasn't staring, I mean I want to eat," I stammered as she giggled at me.

"Follow me then, good sir," she said as she headed toward the table that overlooks the river.

"here's the menu," she said as she handed me the menu. "if you ready, then I would be Alina," she said before leaving me to pick what I want to eat. I scanned the menu but everything was something that I don't understand a word.

"excuse me, Alina," I said before Alina came toward my table.

"yes, sir. Ready to order?" She asked me as she was ready to get my order.

"Actually, can you recommend me what's good here. I don't understand a word," I said giggling at my own idiocy. She smiled as she took the menu from me.

"of course sir," she said as she went back into the kitchen. After a few minutes, she came back with a glass of Chardonnay in her hands.

"here's the wine that will complement your dishes later," she said as she popped the cork and poured me the red wine into the glass.

"your dish will be ready in a minute," she said as she put the wine bottle next to my glass before I took a sip after she left.

A moment later, my dish arrived and I was thankful that it was something that I liked. I asked Alina what was it and she said it was sarmale and I was thankful for her. I ate the dish fully as it was the best dishes in my life. I needed to thank her for this recommendation.

After my dinner, I went to get my check, but instead of Alina, it was the previous waitress that don't speak Italian or English.

"excuse me, Hi," I said as I looked at another waitress that was passing me by. She asked me if I need anything else.

"Yeah, actually I was wondering about the waitress that served me earlier," I said as I hoped that she understood me.

"oh, Alina, go home, go home," she said before walking me by. I just got that she went home already as I walked out of the restaurant, wondering where I shall meet her again.