Page 16 of Diavolo

"You are welcome, Dr. Romero."

As Elyse ended the call, the thought of meeting her employer face to face at last sent butterflies flitting through her stomach. From the backseat of the Benz, excitement mounted within. Or was it anxiety? Elyse couldn't be sure. She'd yet to learn of her reclusive employer's actual name. Regardless, Elyse hoped to make a good first impression.

While the vehicle drove toward her destination, Elyse couldn't help peering outside the tinted windows with hope-filled eyes. Zurich was a breathtaking city. Fairytale-like. A land that possessed the best of old-world charm and modern-day niceties. At a distance, the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps to greet her. Lush green meadows and forests rolled alongsidethe speeding car. Soon, they passed by the city center. Rows upon rows of quaint buildings and houses, inspired by Art Nouveau and neoclassical architecture, lined the banks of the Sihl River.

Half an hour later, they were still driving on the A1 motorway. Not toward Zurich, though. She'd been tracking her location through GPS. According to her phone, she was heading in a completely different direction. A wave of confusion ballooned in Elyse.

"Sorry to bother you, Nils," she addressed her blonde, mustached driver, "but it looks like we're drivingawayfrom Zurich. I thought my employer was waiting for meinZurich?"

"Dr. Romero, we must leave the city," Nils explained, "because he is waiting for you at his chalet. It is in Crans-Montana, which is located about three hours from here."

Green eyes shot wide open. "What?"

The address provided in her employment contract clearly stated that she was supposed to be working out of Zurich for the first month. Not Crans-Montana. Until this very moment, she'd assumed that her employer's house was located in Zurich.

"You may call Mr. Schmid and ask him to clarify," Nils offered, "if you like."

Elyse immediately pulled out her phone and did exactly as the driver suggested. A prickle of alarm crept across her skin, but it seemed too early to panic. There was no need to overreact. Surely, this was a misunderstanding?

Mr. Schmid picked up on the third ring. "What can I do for you, Dr. Romero?"

In a tight voice, she asked, "Why's your driver taking me to Crans-Montana instead of Zurich?"

"Do not fret. My client owns properties in both Zurich and Crans-Montana. He wanted to go skiing this weekend, so he instructed me to send you to the chalet in Crans-Montanainstead of his villa in Zurich. I apologize if this caused any confusion."

"You should've told me," Elyse growled softly. "I don't like surprises."

"Once again, apologies for the miscommunication. I assure you, Nils is taking you exactly where you need to go."

With an annoyed expression, Elyse hung up on Mr. Schmid. She tucked her phone back inside her purse only to find herself retrieving it again two seconds later. She messaged the lawyer and requested the address for her employer's second property in Crans-Montana. Mr. Schmid replied within the same minute. Elyse entered the Crans-Montana address into her GPS, tracking every mile as her life depended on it.

Ten minutes later, the car remained on course. Elyse relaxed somewhat, slumping against her seat. Little by little, jet lag descended upon her as they zipped past a large lake through winding mountainous roads. But she didn't dare fall asleep. Elyse knew she needed to stay awake and make sure that Nils was, indeed, driving to the right address and not delivering her to some shady, undisclosed location in the backwoods of the Swiss Alps. To prevent from nodding off, she decided to engage in some small talk with her driver.

"That's a beautiful lake," Elyse remarked as she glanced out the window. "What is it called?"

Nils let out a wry laugh. Her brow furrowed in confusion. Elyse prompted, "What's so funny?"

"Depends on who you ask," he replied. "It is a contentious debate around here. English speakers like to call it Lake Geneva. But you might offend fewer locals if you refer to it by the original French name,Lac Léman."

Elyse winced slightly. There was so much to learn about Switzerland and its people. She didn't want to be an ignorantforeigner, unknowingly committing faux pas left and right, in this unfamiliar country.

"I'll be sure to remember what you've told me," she murmured. "Thank you, Nils."

Thirty more minutes drifted by before they finally pulled into a long private driveway. A massive house loomed up ahead. Even in a fog of exhaustion, the property's magnificence managed to jolt Elyse from her stupor. Standing three stories high, the chalet sported a traditional and rustic design with richly hued cedar siding panels that stretched horizontally across the exterior. It was topped with a gabled roof and wide eaves. Wooden balconies and large white-framed windows wrapped around each of the three levels while ornate carvings and exposed beams added touches of interest here and there.

Nils parked the car in the garage and got out to assist Elyse with her luggage. They went inside the house together. Upon entry, Elyse felt as though she'd stepped into a luxurious hunting lodge of sorts. Exposed beams ran across a high vaulted ceiling. Beautifully stained wood panels continued to line the walls and the floors. A massive wall-to-ceiling stone fireplace flanked one of the living room walls. Throughout the space, heavy, dark-toned furniture and pieces of contemporary art decorated the bright, airy interior.

An elderly woman with graying blonde hair emerged from the hallway. She looked old enough to be someone'sabuela.Grandmother.She introduced herself as Malina, the housekeeper. The older woman's English carried a colorful concoction of British and German and Italian accents. The housekeeper's speech sounded quite worldly to Elyse's ears even though, at times, it was tricky to understand her pronunciation. Malina's demeanor was polite and warm, and she soon led Elyse to one of the guest rooms on the second floor.

The room came equipped with an en suite bathroom as though it was a master bedroom. An ornate king-sized four-poster canopied bed stood at the center of the room. All of the bedding, pillows, and curtains consisted of soft, luxurious linens in varying shades of ivory and white. There was even a small sitting nook with two massive cream-colored armchairs and a fireplace tucked into one of the corners. Elyse had never stayed in such a beautiful, serene space before. It seemed too lovely to house a mere guest.

"Please take a few minutes to settle in and freshen up, Dr. Romero," Malina instructed kindly, "I will return shortly to check on you."

Elyse tilted her head to the side. "Will I get to meet my employer later?"

Malina nodded. "Yes,Signor Vitaleis excited to see you."

Her Spanish bridged the gap between Italian and English. Elyse quickly connected the dots.Signor Vitalesounded likeSeñor Vitale,which meantMr. Vitale. At last, Elyse learned of her employer's name. Gratefully, she said, "Thank you, Malina."

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