Chapter 2: The Surprise

Kyle Conti's POV

As the morning came by into my lodge, I went for a run in the forest. It was calming and a sense of nature. I breathed in the fresh air as I jogged along the trails that were available around the lodges. I make a note to make sure to include it in the new pamphlet that I was working on.

After dinner last night, I looked over the accounting and finance of the lodges and it has been declining since my father's death. It was not long ago when Oronzo Conti was found dead in his mansion before Laura, my youngest sister came home from Albania. It was a shock to everyone, especially me since I have been beside my father for most of my life.

I stopped to catch my breath before inhaling deeply. I exhaled it before I sensed something was watching me in the woods. I turned around to look but there was nothing but the bushes and forest.

"Hello?" I asked as I walked toward the forest.

"Is there anyone there?" I asked again when silence filled the surrounding.

I was about to walk into the bushes before Mr. Adam was calling me from the lodging, telling me the breakfast was ready. I turned around to walk back to the lodges before I can feel chills that as something was looking at me. I shook my head before headed back toward the lodges.

"Here's some breakfast that we prepared for you, sir," Mr. Adam said as he shows it to me the foods on the table.

"thank you, Mr. Adam," I said as I took a seat in front of the table.

"Please, sir, call me Lance," Mr. Adam, I mean, Lance told me as he also took a seat in front of the table. We have some simple breakfast like some scrambled eggs, bacon and French toast. It was delicious as I was just making small chat with Lance until something came into my mind.

"So, Lance, I have a question for you about the incident that happened at the lodges a couple of months ago," I said before Lance froze as he took the French toast. He chuckled nervously as he looked at me.

"Mr. Conti, I think you misheard about the news. There was no such thing happened at the lodge," he said as he looked at me with the hope that I would drop these. I smiled at him before asking him again.

"Lance, I am the owner of this lodge as well as other businesses around Europe. I need to know why it was declining and from what I have been reading from the report claim, they said it was some animal attacks on the lodgers," I said as I plead for him to tell me what the hell was going on. He sighed as he looked at me with all seriousness from his old face.

"What do you know about Romanian history, Mr. Conti?" He asked me.

"Nothing, perhaps a little. And please Lance, call me Kyle," I said as I looked at him. Since we were on first name base, he should as well.

"Well, Kyle, since you have no knowledge at all, we need to start from the beginning. Since the beginning of time…" he started before my phone rang.

"excuse me," I said as I took the phone call outside off the main office.

"Hello?" I asked as I don't know the number.

"Mr. Conti, this is Iris, your secretary in Italy. I heard that you need to do a charity ball to attract investor and to promote the lodge. I have some list of the potential investors that would be interesting to invest in the lodge," she explained as I learned about this news. That old man. I only told him about my plan and now he helped me to set up the charity ball now.

"Hi, Iris, nice to meet you, well, talking to you. I wanted to know where you get the information about the plan for an investor?" I said I was clutching my palm on my phone.

"oh, Mr. Henry said about it as he was talking about it, I thought you wanted me to get the list of potential investors and plan the event for you?" She asked with curiosity. I sighed at that old man trick. He never shames to say that I need help but I told him that I can do it all by myself as I needed to prove myself as Laura had trusted me to increase the profit of the lodge and Conti International as well. I can't do that if people keep coming into my business like that.

"never mind. I thanked you for the initiative. Did you reserve the place for the charity and what time?" I asked her.

"it would be tomorrow night. All the elite and middle class of Romania will be attending the event. I have laid out the theme for them. I have sent the emails regarding this event and the dress code for the event. It would be formal, sir. I hope you have a suit you?" She asked as I was wondering how she able to pull that off, all the way from Italy.

"huh? Yeah, yeah. I have one. What time is it that you said?" I asked again as I regained my mind out of a trace.

"it will be at 9 PM at Corona House. They will be holding that event in an outdoor setting. I hope you have plus one to bring as well?" She asked again. I sighed at the mention of Plus one. Until my mind thought of that particular person, Alina the waitress last night.

"mark it as a maybe," I said, smiling at my plan.

"Okay, sir. I marked it down. I'll be seeing you tomorrow night then. Have a good day sir," she said before hanging up.

"You too," I said as I put the phone away. I looked at the sky and I smiled at the surprise that I wanted to show to Alina.

It was lunchtime that I decided to go to Roata to ask that beautiful waitress again, but this time as my plus one for the charity event that I will be holding for my company potential investment for the future of the lodge. I parked my car in front of the restaurant before looking myself in the rearview mirror to make sure that I looked presentable to her. I turned off the ignition and went out of the car before going into the restaurant.

"hi, table for one?" The waitress, Maria, that asked me. I shook my head that I don't understand Romanian.

"I got this, Maria," Alina said as she was coming from the kitchen. I smiled at her presence as she looked at me with a charming smile.

"table for one, sir?" She asked in Italian.

"yes, and I would love to have your recommendation for today," I said as I was walking behind him as she showed me at the table.

"I will be right back with the recommendation then," she said as she gestured me to take a seat.

"drink?" She asked as she looked at me. I smiled at her.

"Chardonnay," I said.

"very well," she said before walking into the kitchen through the door. I can't help but smiled as I looked at her retreating figure. I waited for about 15 minutes. There was a lot of people in the restaurant as it was a rush hour for lunchtime. I was looking around as I was fidgeting my fingers as I looked out of the window.

"Do you like it?" Alina said as she took the check for payment.

"yes, it was lovely," I said as she went out to the cashier to swipe my card. She returned with the receipt as I signed it and put some tips for her great service.

"Have a good day," she said before she took the plate.

"wait," I said as I was holding her hand. She looked at our contact before I pulled out as I felt uncomfortable with her staring. It was so enticing with her deep blue orbs looking at me intensely.

"I was wondering if you want to go to an event with me, tomorrow night?" I asked as I looked at her. She arched her eyebrow as she smiled at me.

"What kind of event?" She asked.

"charity ball and also it is an investment party for my company," I said as I tried to look cool while my inside was tumbling inside. She looked like she was thinking for a while.

"I'll think about it, why don't you come back tonight?" She said before went to the kitchen with my plates.

"sure, see you tonight," I said as I was smiling from ear to ear.