CHAPTER 2

WINSTONIA....

Toni is busy getting dressed when the door to her bedroom slams opens, frightened she covers her breasts with her blouse.Only to see it's her father and one look at him tells her he is drunk,his hair is all disheveled,one sleeve of his shirt is rolled up,a few buttons is missing and the red look in his eyes scared her further.

"Da-d..d..."She stammered."Are you okay?"

He stepped further into her room,Toni slowly retreated backwards as she does that she quickly wears her blouse.Today she is suppose to go for the interview as a nanny in the Capital of Italy where all the rich are staying.She doesn't want to be late for this meeting because she needs this job,with their bills piling up it's getting difficult by day.

"Why isn't there breakfast waiting."Her dad slurred.

"I'm...I'm still getting ready father,give me a five minutes then I'll prepare it."

He staggered closer to her,Toni holds her breath she doesn't want to make any move or else she'll get another beating.Her father is very unpredictable lately and even if she doesn't do anything he'll still hit her anyway."Get a move on you bitch!"

She flinches at his word,even till now she isn't used to all his vulgar words and she never thought her own father would treat her in such a manner,she always tells herself that the first chance she gets she's out of here without looking back.Because she is sick and tired of how her father is treating her,he has no regard that she is working her ass off to pay for his endless debts.

All she gets from him is bitterness and resentment,her heart aches because she misses her mother more than anything.She has no one she can talk to....not even real friends all because her father is controlling majority of her life.Any hopes of ever finding a man who'll love her and take her far away from here....died two years ago when she realized no one is going to come and save her,she has to do it herself,and if she'll want to get married and have a family one day then she must escaped from here....far from her drunkard father.

After her father left she quickly wore her sneakers and headed for the kitchen to make his breakfast.She can't eat with her father and whatever food she makes he finishes it then she's left with nothing but crumbs.Toni has trained herself by now only to eat when there is...other than that she doesn't.For her age she is rather small and tiny five feet tall,the not eating properly isn't helping either.

She can't remember the last time she had a proper balance nutrient full meal,she can't complain though.... she's alive have a roof over her head and food to eat....sometimes.There are people who have neither and she's grateful that her father hasn't beaten her to death.

When she was done with breakfast she didn't waste a second to dash out the door,she'll be late for her interview and she prays to God that she doesn't get fired before actually having the job.She has hid some money for emergencies and today she's going to need it for a cab if she doesn't want to be extra late.

The woman she's going to see is Ariana Valetti....Valetti....that surname gives her unwanted cold chills,she hopes the woman isn't as cold as her surname, because she has met some really uptight and snobbish rich people who look down on those they feel are beneath them.

Don't get her wrong though,there are some rich people who are very kind but the ones she has met so far,are nothing but disrespectful and rude and she stays away from such people because they'll find any opportunity to exploit you.As they are driving her gaze flickers around her outside through the window. Italy has many beautiful places and one day she'll explore it.

"Milan..."Toni softly whispers to herself,she's heading into Porta Garibaldi,she had to take two taxis...one that takes her into Milan and the other to Porta Garibaldi,she is in awe with this place and all the historical buildings she's seeing.Milan is Italy's most expensive place and someone like her can only dream of living in a place like this.

The houses they are passing is even more breath taking,most of them are big and very luxurious with their green lawns that look very soft to sit or lie on.She has given the driver the location of where to go and they have been driving for a while now.Toni is already an hour late for this interview and she won't be surprised if Mrs Valetti will show her the door.

"We here Miss."She hears the driver say in Italian,she hears and understand when they speak but she only knows the basics.Having stayed here since the age of ten she has made sure to learn the language and the people.

Toni looks at the driver and outside again,she can see a house up ahead but wonders why the driver isn't going any further.Opening her mouth to ask,he shuts her up by saying."Private territory Miss, this is as far as I can go."By his stiff back and serious face and posture Toni can see she won't get anything out of him.

So she pays him and gets out of the car,looking around her she notices one thing....there is no house apart from the one she can see up ahead.But going down,there are houses,this one is very secluded almost isolated,but the trees around it and the open land makes it look very inviting.She has always loved nature and the beauty it has to offer.

The peace,the quietness....there's nothing that can compare to that. Freedom.Putting one foot in front of the other she makes her way upwards towards the mysterious isolated house.As she got closer,there are two guards who's standing outside a big iron gate with big R-fives in their hands,her heart froze inside her chest. What if she's at the wrong house and right now she's about to die.

Toni is frozen on the spot,as she stood and stared at the men before her,she knows she must make a move because standing here definitely won't look good to any of these guys and by the serious cold looks on their faces they will shoot her without batting an eye.

"Who are you?"One of them asks her,Toni opens her mouth to talk but no words could come out,they ask her again but this time in Italian."Chi sei?"Still no words came out when she tried to speak again."Come ti chiami." (What's your name)

"W-w..instonia."She gulped, finally she thought.

Since she responded when they asked her name in Italian the guy continued to speak Italian."Che affari to fanno qui?"

"I....uhm...I-."She shut her mouth and cleared her throat before speaking,she better get her shit together or else she'll be eight feet under with no one caring if she's alive or dead."I'm here to see Mrs Valetti it's about the job interview."The two guards exchanged looks then one of them pressed something on his ear while talking again,she can't hear what he's saying because he's speaking softly.

"Winstonia Cooper?"The other guy asks in English,Toni nodded her head. "Identification please?"She willingly provides it,she watches as they put it through a scan.WTF!She thought do they think it's fake.

"Thank you."She said with a stiff smile when they handed it back. The huge iron gates opened and she walked inside,but not before looking back only to see two more guys standing with big rifles in their hands.What the hell is going on here?Is she on a movie set? This whole situation doesn't feel right to her.Does all wealthy families have heavily armed men guarding their premises outside or is there something else going on here.

Not wanting to let her mind ran away with her, Toni walks up the long driveway that has no end,when she finally makes it at the front door...all exhausted an older looking woman opens the door with a bright smile on her face,her pepper white hair is neatly tied.

"Miss Cooper."Her smile isn't fake at all,it's warm and inviting but it still doesn't ease Toni's suspicions of what's going on here."Come through Mrs Valetti will be with you shortly."

Toni returned her genuine smile,and followed the lady inside,the place is absolutely gorgeous and the cool air of the air conditioning is soothing to her over heated flesh.She couldn't help the soft sigh that slipped past her lips.

"Can I know your name?"Toni slaps her hand over her mouth she has no clue how that question fell off her tongue.

The woman smiles at her before shaking her head."My name is Seline cara."She answered."I'm the cook and head maid of the house.All the other maids work under me.Any more questions before I get you something to drink."Embarrassed Toni only shook her head no."Very well.You may wait here."With that the woman Seline disappeared.

Toni looked around her in the huge living room that's painted a soft gray color.... Matching couches in a L-shape is all around a beautiful glass coffee table with a fresh flowers decorating the center.A photo of a beautiful young woman and a very handsome Italian God is hanged up above the fireplace.

Moving closer she inspected the portrait better,the love these two people have for one another is clear as they gazed into each other's eyes.Will she ever find such a love,or is it true what her father has said....no man will ever take her because she's nothing but a useless whore. Just thinking about his words fills her with sadness there are many vulgar words her father has said and she tries to avoid them....but sometimes she can't.... Sometimes it's too much to hear.

"Winstonia...?"She hears a soft feminine voice say from behind her, turning around she sees a beautiful woman standing before her. Her ash blonde hair is flowing freely down her back framing her oval face,her green eyes flashing brightly with kindness....her aura is very welcoming and Toni knows if this is the woman she'll be working for....then she'll be extremely happy.