Chapter 4 Daniella

That morning, I had breakfast with Anna and Gilbert. I didn't know when we would eat together again.

"Are you sure you've brought everything you need? Don't leave anything behind." Anna stared at the medium-sized white suitcase.

"We checked that suitcase twenty minutes ago, Anna." I reminded Anna.

"I've brought everything I need, including this Hello Kitty. I can't sleep without it." I grinned widely as I took the doll out of my backpack and hugged it tightly.

The doll was a gift from my mother when I was 7. At least she celebrated my birthday with a cake she made before she died. The doll would always be by my side until I died.

I put the doll back into my backpack, worried I would leave it behind.

"Take care of yourself, Daniella. Don't be afraid of anyone, and always do good as much as possible." Gilbert said, smiling, his eyes showing sadness.

"It will always be in my memory." I smiled widely with a warm heart.

"Daniella!"

I smiled brightly and ran out of the house.

I hugged Gabriella and Clara for a long time because we didn't know when to see each other again.

"If you get a boyfriend, tell us!" Clara said, teasing me.

"Why do you hope so much that I have a boyfriend?" I snorted.

"We should video call often!" Gabriella gripped my hand as if she didn't want us to be separated.

"Of course!" I nodded.

A black car entered my yard. Diego and Justin got out of their car. They dressed in formal outfits. The difference was that Diego wore sunglasses, whereas Justin wore white eyeglasses.

My heart rate increased every time Diego took a step closer to me. Nervousness hit me after I realized that he was picking me up to live with him.

"Are you ready, Daniella?" Diego stood two steps in front of me without taking off his glasses.

I didn't see his hazel eyes, which always stared sharply, but he had an intimidating aura.

"Yes, I'm ready." I nodded.

"Where's your suitcase?" Diego asked.

"Oh, wait a minute." I entered the house and found Anna and Gilbert holding hands in the living room. Trying to be strong, I said, "Diego has come to pick me up."

They nodded and escorted me to the porch. Gilbert handed my suitcase to Justin. Justin hurriedly put the white suitcase in the garage.

I hugged them.

I felt very emotional, and my eyes were watery, but I was still able to control my tears.

Anna turned her face away from me when she could no longer hold back her tears.

I waved my hand and looked at them to ensure they were all stored in my brain before I got into the black car.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out.

I opened my eyes when I felt calm.

I didn't let my head turn back as the car left my house.

I looked to my right, surprised to find Diego sitting beside me.

I leaned back stiffly. The car was luxurious, and the seats were soft, but I felt uncomfortable.

I had never sat in a car with strangers before.

I stared out the window to calm my pounding heart.

We arrived at the airport. I was getting nervous and excited. It was my first time on a plane!

I frowned as two tall, muscular men in tight black shirts and sunglasses approached us.

"They're my bodyguards," Diego told me. "They're Axton and Oscar."

"Hi, I'm Daniella." I smiled at them. They just nodded. They were as scary as their boss.

"Oh, you haven't introduced me to your driver yet." I looked back; a man in a gray shirt stood beside Justin.

"He's Brian," Diego said.

"Hi, Daniella." Brian smiled at me.

He seemed as friendly as Justin. "Hi, Brian."

After a brief introduction, we went through a security check.

I wondered as I realized we were going down a different path than the rest of the crowd.

Where were we really going?

I was astonished as we went up the stairs to Diego's white private jet one by one.

I admired the private jet's lavish interior.

I had to pinch my hand to convince myself I wasn't dreaming.

I sat near the window. The chair was as soft as a sofa.

My smile disappeared, replaced by a confused face. Diego chose to sit in front of me despite the many empty seats.

I watched closely as the flight attendant demonstrated the safety procedures.

I held the armrest tightly as the plane took off and prayed that we would arrive safely at our destination.

I wanted to explore the private jet so much, but then I realized I was the only woman on the plane.

Suddenly, fear crept into my mind. What if Diego was a bad guy?

I was overthinking.

I read a novel on my phone or looked out the window the entire way.

I glanced at Diego a few times with an uncomfortable feeling.

Diego was staring at the laptop on the coffee table, but I felt he was watching me.

I held my breath unconsciously when our eyes met.

I lowered my head with my heart beating strangely. Diego didn't take his eyes off me as if he wanted me to catch him red-handed.

Diego made me not want to look anywhere else but my phone.

An hour later, Diego asked me out for lunch.

The dining room had eight seats. I chose a seat by the window, away from Justin, Brian, Axton, and Oscar, but unexpectedly, Diego sat across from me.

The delicious food lowered my suspicions and my guard against Diego. I ate a lot, trying not to be distracted by Diego's stares.

"Where do you want to go to college?"

My heart jumped, not expecting him to talk to me after eating.

"I've been looking into it, but I haven't decided where I want to go to college. But I do know I don't want to go to Harvard."

Diego nodded. "What do you want to major in?"

"I want to major in business," I replied.

"Why did you choose business?"

"I want to be like you," I replied.

"What do you mean you want to be like me?" Diego raised an eyebrow as he poured himself a glass of wine and stared straight at me.

"I don't know what business I want to do, but I want to be an entrepreneur. I want to have a lot of money."

"Good motivation," Diego said. "What do you know about business?"

"I've worked at my adoptive parents' coffee shop since I was little. It's not easy to retain and attract customers. We must always innovate and take risks so we don't lose out to other coffee shops," I said excitedly.

"I like the concept of your adoptive parents' coffee shop." Diego nodded twice. "Cold milk coffee is my favorite."

My eyes expanded. The next second, I stared at him with curiosity. "Have you ever been to my adoptive parents' coffee shop?"

Diego stared at me for a long time, allowing the stillness to settle between us, and I got even more intrigued. "We're about to land."

Why did he ignore my question?

After Diego said that, the pilot announced that the private jet was about to land.

"How many hours is our flight?" I asked him.

"Six hours."

I looked down sadly. For six hours, I just sat in my chair and went to the dining room.

We got off the private jet. I hoped someday I could ride it again.

A white car picked us up. I sat next to Diego.

I watched the street. Boston wasn't much different than Portland.

The white car pulled into a block. I admired all the houses we passed. They looked like palaces.

My heart stopped when the white car stopped in front of a magnificent, classic-style mansion like the previous houses.

I exited the car and stared at the white house in disbelief. I felt like I had entered a fairy tale.

"I'll show you your room, Dala."

His deep voice penetrated my consciousness; all the hairs on my neck stood up as I felt his warm breath touch my ear, and that peculiar feeling returned to my chest every time he called me that.

Why was he standing behind me?

I took a step before turning to face him. His crooked smile made my back shiver as if a cold wind had suddenly blown in the middle of summer.