Chapter 5 First steps in foreign land

Naples airport was lively, its halls filled with hurried travelers, joyful families, and amazed tourists. Emily had recovered her luggage and followed the indications to the arrivals area, where Francesca was waiting for him with her sign with her name in elegant letters.

"Emily Carter?" Francesca asked with a warm smile.

Emily nodded, a little timidly. "Yes, it's me."

"Welcome to Naples! I'm Francesca, I'm going to accompany you to your apartment and give you some details on the coming week." Francesca was an elegant woman in the thirties, with a reassuring voice and a professional but friendly attitude.

While they left the airport to reach the car from Francesca, Emily could not help throwing around her. Naples was alive, with animated streets, old buildings full of charm, and an azure sea visible in the distance.

Francesca, noticing her curious look, began to speak. "Naples is a fascinating city, and I'm sure you will love your stay here. The apartment that the company has booked is located in a quiet area, not too far from the city center."

Emily replied with a smile. "It looks perfect. I must admit that this is my first time in Italy, and everything already seems so different to me."

Francesca laughs slowly. "You will see, the Italians are welcoming. And Naples has a unique energy. It is a city with a rich history and a vibrant culture, especially with its culinary traditions. Do you like pizza?"

Emily laughed. "Of course! But I imagine that here, it is even better."

During the journey, Francesca spoke of a few places to visit during its rest days: Vesuvius, Pompeii, the Amalfitaine coast. Emily listened carefully, mentally noting each suggestion.

The car stopped in front of a charming building, with a cream -colored stone facade and flowery balconies. Francesca Aida Emily to take out her suitcases before opening the main door to her. The elevator cried slightly upon the third floor, where Emily's apartment was waiting for him.

Francesca opened the door and motioned for him to enter. "Here is your new home! The company has arranged it to offer you all the necessary comfort."

Emily put her things near the entrance and looked around. The apartment was bright, with large windows that let natural light enter. A cozy living room, an equipped kitchen, and a bedroom with freshly ironed sheets instantly gave it the feeling of being welcomed. On the kitchen table, a small gift basket awaited it, filled with local specialties.

"It's so warm, thank you very much," said Emily, sincerely touched.

Francesca smiles. "I am delighted that you like it. So let's talk a little about your schedule. Your work starts at 9 am on Monday. You will meet the team in our main headquarters. You will have a small reception meeting with Giacomo Morelli and some colleagues. In the meantime, take advantage of this weekend to rest and explore the city a little. "

Emily nodded, taking care to hold back every detail. "Thank you for all this information, Francesca. I am excited and a little nervous at the idea of starting."

"This is completely normal, don't worry. The team is very friendly, and I'm sure you will quickly integrate yourself."

After answering a few other questions, Francesca gave him his phone number. "Call me if you need help for anything. I will be delighted to assist you."

Once Francesca left, Emily settled on the sofa and looked at her apartment for a moment. She took her phone, choosing to start by calling her mother.

"Hello, mom!" she said, as soon as Margaret won.

"Oh, Emily! How are you? You have arrived?" Margaret's voice was full of concern and curiosity.

"Yes, everything went very well. Francesca, an assistant from the company, guided me to my apartment. You should see this place, it's so charming and comfortable. And they even left me a basket with local specialties."

Margaret burst out laughing. "They know how to take care of their employees, for sure. So, everything is ready for Monday?"

"Yes, Francesca explained the details to me. I will meet the team on Monday morning and I will start the project. In the meantime, I will take advantage of the weekend to explore a little."

"I'm so happy for you, Emily. Don't forget to take care of yourself, and call me every time you want."

"Of course, mom. And you, how are you?"

Margaret told his day in detail, adding anecdotes to the neighbor who had unfortunately overturned his flower pots. Emily laughs while listening to him, enjoying this moment of normality despite the distance.

After hanging up, Emily called Kira, who replied immediately. "So, Miss Italy, how is it going? You have already fallen in love with a beautiful Neapolitan?"

Emily laughed. "Stop with that, Kira. I just settled in my apartment. And you know what? This place is incredible. A real little pearl."

Kira sighed dramatically. "You are making me jealous. I am stuck here to solve bugs with Mr. Laurent who is still looking for the" Print "button."

Emily laughs. "I will miss you in the office, Kira. But I promise, I will call you regularly to tell you in detail."

"You have an interest. And don't forget to send me photos. I want to see everything: the apartment, the streets, the pizza. I want to live by proxy."

The two friends continued to discuss at length, Kira asking a thousand questions about Emily's first impressions, and Emily sharing her plans for the weekend. At the end of the conversation, Emily felt soothed, ready to kiss her new life with optimism.

When Emily finally decided to explore her apartment in more detail, she first headed for her room. By pushing the door, it was immediately struck by the beauty and elegance of space. The room was bathed in a soft light thanks to the large windows framed by light white curtains. The walls were painted in a soothing pastel shade, a subtle mixture of blue and gray, creating a serene and welcoming atmosphere.

The bed, a large King-Size model, was enthroned in the center of the room, covered with a soft duvet with floral patterns and perfectly arranged cushions. On the bedside table, a lamp with golden accents added a touch of sophistication. Emily put a hand on the mattress and smiled by feeling her sweetness; She already knew she would sleep comfortably.

Facing the bed, a large mirror was hung on the wall, framed by shelves where there were a few books in Italian and carefully chosen decorative objects: scented candles, a small ceramic sculpture, and even an old map of Naples. Emily thought for a moment of Francesca and the team of Sistemi Globali Novatech, wondering if it was they who had put so much care to create this space.

Attracted by the desire to cool off after her long trip, Emily headed for the bathroom adjacent to her room. When she lit the light, she could not suppress a slightly amazed sigh. The walls were covered with white and black tiles, arranged in an elegant geometric pattern. The brilliant marble floor added a luxury feeling, while a large mirror framed a modern porcelain sink.

Emily also noted the shower, an Italian model with glass doors and multiple jets. She laughed gently, wondering if she could master all the settings. Next to the shower, a bath with sweet curves almost appeared to immerse her, but she opted for a quick shower before going to bed.

On the sink edge, several products were carefully arranged: a craft soap flavored with lemon, from shampoos and shower gels to Mediterranean scents, and even a small box containing bathroom salts. Emily appreciated the generosity of these little attentions, feeling more and more comfortable in this apartment which already seemed a little at her.

After showing off, Emily put on a comfortable pajamas and slipped into the bed. She took a few moments to savor the feeling of fresh sheets against her skin and began to observe the ceiling, where a dim light created soothing shadows. She opened her phone, ready to send a message to her mother. But before that, she took a quick photo of her room, wanting to share this beauty with Margaret.

"I just went to bed," she wrote. "Look at my room! It's so beautiful here. Everything is fine, mom. I'm calling you tomorrow."

Margaret replied almost immediately: "I'm so happy for you, my darling. So good. I love you."

Emily smiled and put her phone on the bedside table. She also thought of Kira, promising to send her photos the next day. For the moment, she wanted to focus on this moment of calm.

Emily felt her eyelids become heavy while the fatigue of the journey and the emotions of the day took over. Through the windows, she vaguely perceived the soothing sounds of Naples: the sound of a fountain in the neighboring courtyard, the distant murmurs of night conversations, and the sporadic shards of music from a a few streets from there.

In this suspended moment, Emily felt deeply lucky. She knew that this departure represented a great turning point in her life, and although she could not predict what was waiting for her, she felt ready to face each challenge. Little by little, her mind calmed down, and she fell asleep, rocked by the murmurs of a city full of promises.