Isabella Fiori advanced through the airport dressed in elegant shades, faithful to the persona she had to be. She crossed the polished floor in a pair of blue linen pants, white silk camisole, and a dashing camel trench coat on top. Nothing justified a lack of good taste. Each piece was in harmony with her skin and copious light honey hair, cascading down her back in waves. Her suede, high-heel stilettos clicked and clacked on the glittering floor of the Roman international airport, Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino, as she marched to the British Airways counter. As planned, her flight to Cape Town was almost ready to close the door and take off. The fewer people who saw her the better. Isabella handed over her boarding pass to the courteous airline representative.
“You almost missed your flight,” the counter agent said, studying her and her boarding pass. “Zone six? It can’t be possible!”
“Vero! That happens when you do things on the spur of the moment. I just bought my ticket,” she answered, planning on dashing to her seat, putting on her headphones and ignoring the world around.
“I see… the last zone and last row. You’ll sit next to the toilets. Would you like to upgrade?” he asked, tapping the keyboard, looking to see if there was a better seat available.
“I’ll be fine. Grazie.” She flashed a courteous smile, waiting for the green light to board the plane.
“Do you have more luggage than your carry-on?” asked the representative with a brief side glance before getting back to his screen.
“Just this shoulder bag.” She shrugged, adjusting her purse’s strap on her shoulder. “I like finding local fashion.”
“Capisco bene, Signorina! It’s your lucky day; I upgraded you anyway, courtesy of British Airlines. Front row. Have a comfortable flight.” The agent printed a new boarding pass and handed it to her with a polite smile. “Adesso, buona fortuna in Cape Town.”
She thanked him and accepted the ticket. It was much better, all things considered. Now she would dash to her seat without the passengers’ gaze.
Once seated, Mila wondered why Alexander had summoned her to Cape Town through a secret line, urging her to use one of her ‘identities’ and fly commercial instead of taking her private jet. Was Masae making a delivery somewhere in the African continent? Masae had recently returned to London after an international pharmaceutical summit, so she could be maneuvering her ropes from a distance or was she supposed to visit Masae’s highly advertised relief foundation in Africa? No, it couldn’t be that either. Humanitarian promotion was something Masae did with all cameras following the few coins she dropped. Then why had Alexander asked her to travel incognito?
It was a warm, sunny morning when Mila arrived. It was almost springtime in Cape Town, and thanks to the continuous rainfall, a promising green season welcomed her. Even though Cape Town International Airport was the second busiest in the country, Mila was able to exit quickly. The sun and a gentle sea breeze kissed her face as she stepped out onto the street where Alexander had been waiting for her.
“Traveling light, I see,” Alexander commented, opening the door and waiting gallantly for her to be seated. He circled the vehicle and sat on the right side as he was used to. Driving in South Africa was just like driving in England. He selected the scenic route offered in the navigation system of his rental car as they exited the airport.
“You didn’t give further instructions other than: jump on the next plane out of Tel Aviv, you are needed in Cape Town! So, I did and here I am,” Mila answered, gazing at the colorful and hilly city, as Alexander joined the easy morning traffic. Like any town by the sea, the atmosphere breathed a relaxed, easy vibe.
They circulated passing clusters of homes built on mountain land, bedecked with terraces of palm trees and large succulents. Their white balconies presented stunning mountains and ocean views from any angle.
“Where is Masae sending me this time? And why didn’t she call me herself?” Mila asked, gazing out the window.
“Did you have a pleasant flight?” Alexander answered with another question, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, unable to conceal his nervousness. With Mila by his side, all that he had prepared to tell her, seemed impossible. His normally quick brain was taking its time to gather the right words. There she was, sitting next to him, her will bent to what Masae required from her, just as his was.
Alexander’s out-of-character expression was difficult to read. She couldn’t decide if he was worried about something or nervous. “It was pleasant. I was upgraded to business class. I suppose it made up for flying from Tel Aviv to Rome and then all the way here,” Mila replied, glancing at Alexander, narrowing her eyes. She didn’t mind traveling; she actually enjoyed it very much. But being Masae’s delivery girl made her loathe country-hopping. Besides, the last Hong Kong chase gave her the clear indication that her life was expendable. Where would she be going now? She wondered, as the sting of fear grew stronger in her chest.
Mila held on to the small handle above her window as if preparing to jump out of the vehicle if she needed to. “Let’s get straight to the point. Where’s the delivery taking place?” She peered at him. “The sooner we do this, the sooner I can get back to the excavations.” Mila kicked her bag resting on the car floor with her stiletto when crossing her legs.
“This isn’t an order from Masae,” Alexander replied, shrugging as he offered a nervous, side smile.
“What do you mean?” Mila turned to him and frowned. She studied him. “Oh, no, you didn’t just make me come all this way for nothing. Tell me what is going on!” Mila protested, huffing and puffing on her seat. “I dressed up as this Isabella Fiori woman—that I don’t like much—for what, then? What could be so important?”
“I didn’t say there wasn’t a delivery. There was one. But not the kind you think,” Alexander kept his eyes straight on the road. It was only yesterday he was in Conakry. Images of people in great need passed before his eyes. His heart tightened. He had to tell Mila the truth. But how? He was failing miserably in just a few minutes. Alexander glanced at her trying to gauge the situation before checking the GPS navigator. “What about a break, trading a little bit of the desert for some greenery?”
“For your information, Israel has plenty of greenery!” She grumbled, shaking her head, her hand went back to the handle above her window.
“Right. In a small potent package.” Alexander answered with a smile; “but look around this vastness.” He waved a hand to call attention to the beauty that surrounded them beyond the windshield.
“What is going on, Alexander? Did you test an experimental drug on yourself or what?” Mila probed, frowning and looking through her window, unable to negate the beauty of the place. But being antagonistic with him was a reflex or maybe a game—the details weren’t yet clear. “Does Masae know about this? Where was the delivery?”
“The delivery was made to a neighboring country.” His face turned dark. “If everything goes right, no one will hear anything about it. Anyhow, I’m entitled to a few weeks of vacation, and she doesn’t know I asked you to meet me here.”
“Ah. I see, you pulled a Masae stunt on herself. The Isabella disguise was to pass incognito under Masae’s radar. I understand.”
“But I’m sure she’ll soon find out we aren’t where she left us.” He offered Mila a grin, but the memories of the last three weeks, darkened his gaze. The consequences of his actions confronted him. He focused on the road, feeling his heart sank in his chest.
“I can’t believe you made a delivery with none of her thugs to cover your back.” Mila chuckled despite herself. Yet, her suspicions nudged her to keep the walls up, something was going on.
“You have little trust in my self-defense skills. But think about it, who needs to fight like a ninja when carrying invisible weapons capable of annihilating entire nations?” Alexander grimaced, saying those heavy words left a bitter taste on his tongue.
“True.” Mila looked away to the mountain by her side of the road. “I’m still shocked. Circumventing Masae’s vigilance is an impressive feat, but your head will roll, unless you let me in on whatever it is that’s happening.” Mila opened the sunroof to feel the wind between her fingers and let the salty scent of the ocean in the car. “Which brings me to the reason I’m here. What is the plan, Dr. Lyashenko? Where are we going?”
“First things first,” Alexander spoke with a softer tone. “Thank you for coming as fast as you did.” He kept his gaze on the road as they were driving on the edge of the mountain, one poor maneuver and they would end up in the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. He wanted to tell her that he knew she was understandably unsure of what was happening, but so was he. He knew what he had to tell her, but he didn’t know how, he didn’t think of a plan. He cleared his throat, he had to improvise and hope for the best opportunity to have the conversation. “How do you feel about Jackass penguins?”
“What?” Mila turned to him, narrowing her big eyes.
“Well, that’s what they used to be called because of their distinct braying call. But now they are simply known as African penguins. What do you say we drive to Boulder Beach where we can see them waddling freely in their natural environment,” Alexander proposed, his heartbeat rising. It would give him time to figure out what would be the next step. Maybe there, while chasing a penguin, he would tell her about her kidnap, her grandmother Eva Bosco, about becoming her inside informer, about his need to do the right thing. “I know you love animals and nature. If you feel like hiking, we can make our way up to Table Mountain. It’s just above according to the map. Look in the glovebox for the guide to South Africa.”
“I didn’t take you for a penguin lover or a hiker or a globetrotter, lab man!” Mila frowned at him again, resisting a grin forming on her lips. She had never seen this side of him before and she was enjoying it.
“This is off the record. We both know what it is like to be under the same ruler’s iron grip… So, I thought of sharing this trip with you.” Alexander avoided Mila’s gaze, glancing at the rocky wall on her side and wishing he had rented a convertible instead because now she had both hands out of the sunroof.
“This route is Chapman’s Peak Drive, or simply known as Chappies,” he said, grinning, but focused on the winding road. “The locals say it’s the granddaddy of all scenic drives in this area. Nine miles cutting into this seemingly impassable cliff.”
“Wow!” Mila unbuckled her seat belt and took the stilettos off. “Let’s see if I can pull this off,” she said, lifting her upper body through the sunroof. She took in the view, breathing deeply, and savoring her minutes of freedom with the ocean breeze on her face and her heart pounding.
“Careful! Don’t look down the cliff!” Alexander yelled so she could hear him. He smiled but shook his head. Of course that was something she would do, daring death always, as if she didn’t have anything to live for. But she did, and he had to tell her. “I’ll stop by one of the viewing sites.”
“I think Masae’s business instinct advised her to let you out of her laboratories. No one wants a sunlight-deprived demented scientist around. What good would you be for her then?” Mila said, sitting back down and glancing at him. He looked so human, a happy child full of mischief. She had never seen him like that. “Anyway, could you stop by a shop? Apparently, I need beach wear and hiking shoes.”
Alexander smiled and shrugged, contrite but grateful that on practical things he was somewhat prepared. “Look in the boxes in the backseat.” He didn’t meet Mila’s shocked gaze but instead focused on the beauty of the coastal drive. There was so much beauty to be appreciated and too many emotions to sort out.
“Mila, I don’t have a hidden agenda with this trip. I know the whole thing is strange. I feel terribly sorry to have asked you to come as I did. I apologize for doing that. If you would like to go back home, I’ll turn the car around and take you to the airport.” His pleading brown eyes met her eyes. “But please, allow me to invite you to stay. You and I know that if I had invited you directly, you would have refused to come. I realize it was a selfish act on my part, but I will do as you wish.” He parked the car at a scenic point, and got out to look at the blue horizon as an army of cyclists and a few runners passed them by.
Mila joined him. She stood silent for a while, staring at the ocean’s hypnotic rhythm. She watched the seagulls’ flyover, contemplating the unpredictability of life, her life. And wondered if she had the wisdom to recognize a moment of good fortune. She turned to Alexander and met his deep eyes. She appreciated the kind spark they possessed when looking at her in such moments. There had been instances he looked at her with sadness and tenderness, but she wasn’t willing to accept them. He was right, she conceded, she would never have accepted his invitation, but his transparency had disarmed her.
She smiled at him, pondering on all the things he had left unsaid. Alexander had never offered personal information. He was young and worked from sunrise to sundown. Where was his family? Did he have meaningful relationships? She had never stopped to think about who he was outside Masae’s castle and Pharma-NorTech laboratories. It was easier to leave him in Masae’s corner as her right hand. It was easier to make him the bad guy, but what would show if she turned the focus to his reality? Being in Masae’s clutch was to live a solitary life, she knew that very well. Could it be so strange to assert that Alexander was sharing this trip with her because he didn’t have anyone else in his life? She recognized the isolation reserved for those who learned to be self-sufficient to avoid being vulnerable and to be found lacking. She also lived in isolation, in the shadow of many lies, hoping soon she would confront them with the truth. And that truth would help her to breakout of the cage.
“Well, apology accepted. Besides, I don’t want to sit on a plane again for the rest of the day.” Mila answered truthfully, lifting her face to the sun. Her natural light brown hair was shining, free from the dark blond wig which represented an identity far from her real self.
It was late in the afternoon by the time Alexander and Mila began their drive to their hotel. After a day of surprises and compromises, they fell into a comfortable silence. Each was considering how easy it had been to forget who they were, forget their worries and the challenges of their normal lives, and how amazing it felt to be two people enjoying time without particular tasks to accomplish, to witness the magic of the moment.
Mila turned to Alexander to comment on how beautiful the sky colors were as the sun was preparing its descent, but he was far away, in deep thought but with a peaceful smile. She let him be absent and content until they got to their hotel on a private quay. The lodge was at the base of a green mountain facing a calm, blue sea.
“Would you like to join me for dinner?” Alexander asked, walking her to her suit crossing the classy and warm reception lounge.
“Please, give me an hour.” Mila smiled, appreciating his politeness.
Her suite was exquisitely decorated with fine furniture, rare fabrics as curtains, and intriguing antiques. The paintings and sculptures were made by local artists, according to the guestbook on a center table. On one of the paintings there was a woman walking in a prairie. She walked through a narrow path of wild red and yellow lilies; the woman and the flowers merging. Mila blinked and when she opened her eyes again, the woman was walking through flames of fire. She shook her head and moved on to the display of fresh Proteas in a vase, waiting for her with a note. Mila picked up the card, glancing at the satin boxes scaffolding around and on the table. Mila opened the card cautiously.
The least I could do. I hope you find the garments tasteful. Thank you for coming! A.L., Mila read, shaking her head. Inside each box there were clothing pieces for her Cape Town wardrobe. Who was Alexander Lyashenko? She wondered, and why was he doing this?
She didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but she had to admit, she liked his intelligent eyes gazing at her warmly. His light brown hair cut into submission, shaping his handsome square face. He had smiled and even laughed that afternoon while playing on the beach and feeding sardines to the penguins. All the years that his work had added to his fairly young age had disappeared.
Seeing him so human and unguarded made Mila want to know more of this man. In the simplicity of the day they had spent, she realized that they were mirrors reflecting each other. Two lonely souls starving for belonging and connection. Mila sniffed the card again and his masculine fragrance still lingered in it, disseminating in bursts of bergamot, vanilla, cinnamon, and cedarwood. Mila’s heart contracted in her chest and her stomach ached with longing.
Mila descended to the lobby, thinking that perhaps, she had taken for granted his care during those two years that had passed. If she wanted to be honest, from the moment she woke up from her coma, whenever he could, he had been a buffer between Masae and her. He had been an intermediary leaning on her side. Trying to present himself as rough as a Russian winter when following Masae’s orders, but as gentle as an English summer when dealing with her.
Alexander was standing by the restaurant’s entrance when he turned around and saw her coming his way. She wore the simple summer dress and sandals he had bought for her. He grinned and held out his hand. She smiled, her heart pounding crazily as she walked towards him. She was getting closer to him, accepting him, welcoming him with her heart, although she wasn’t completely aware of the magic of that moment. Alexander stretched out his hand, his eyes locked on hers. They held hands for a second, revealing to each other a glimpse of their souls’ deepest desire to be loved.