"Stella! Stellaa!!" Feeling a tug on the shoulder amidst the melancholic call of her names Stella bolt open her eyes.They met with the quizzical face of her boss whose eyebrows were shrunk together above his eyes. His lips slightly pouty quivered indicating his amusement. Stella moved backwards, far away from her bosses reach and heaved a breath that was stuck in her throat and choking her respiration.She looked around and then at her close. Her cilium fastened concurrently upon the realization of standing in piece— unharmed and grateful."Are you there in this world?" She unfolded her eye lids with a grasp when his question hit her.Oh how can she forget, the boss was standing right there.Stella sucked another breath while she sensed her face running wet with sweat to herself. She upped her fingers and touched the tips

23The dining room was exquisite. The walls were covered with a shimmering gold paper and in the middle of the ceiling above the carved oak table was a candelabra.My legs automatically moved inside while my pupils noticed everything minutely. From the look itself, I can confidently say that my boss must have spent millions of dollars on this villa. But sadness dawned on me because it was barely used. He hardly stayed here, only during his trips to Milan.It was assured that he travelled too much. And I wondered how many such beautiful Villas were built for him but never used for a permanent stay!I stood beside the table and trailed my fingers on the wood. Down the centre of the table was a runner with Celtic design woven in gold and green into the fabric itself. At the end of the table were floor to ceiling French doors, left slightly opened to let in the scented summer air gush in and brush the faces o

Two days later**The Milan Villa, Afternoon, Stella's point of view.... "Miss Miller, your lunch is ready, should I bring it to your room or will you come down at the table?" the lady with big fat specs asked me in her as usually firm and polite tone.I was looking out of the window when she addressed me, "No thanks, Mrs. Black, I am not hungry now. You can leave the food in the kitchen, I will eat it." And I continued to look out of the window only when I replied her.However, after my reply, she did not move. I can sense her lean tall figure standing beside me while I sat down on the window sill and stared out. I can feel her eyes watching me silently, with her lips quivering to tell me to move out of the room and to the lunch table with her. Because I have not touched a grain of food after that night."Oh Miss. Miller, you have not eaten anything fo

Third person's point of view... Stella uncomfortably moved in the bed. She shook her wrist and then her entire arm. Max who had been sitting next to her bed ever since she was brought here, batted his lashes several times as he noticed the movements in her body. His lips curved into a smile, and he immediately placed a hand under her back before she opened her eyes from the day's long unconsciousness. "Stella!" Stella blinked her eyes a few times, she almost gasped finding a face so close to hers that she freaked out until she realized who it was! It was her boss who had been avoiding her lately. There was worry written all over his face. The way he was leaning over her body, it showed his protection, even though he did not mean to convey that, Stella still took it as the same. She smiled while her lips slowly whispered, "Yo-you came!" "Oh lord, finally you are awake, Stella." He spoke near her face as he made

Mrs. Black encountered Max with a bewildered face. She held her breaths and her entire body trembled watching Stella in Max's arms. She was on the verge of busting into tears when he informed her, "She is fine, just a bit tired. Don't worry Mrs. Black, she is just sleeping." She sighed urgently. Her fingers trailed around Stella's cheeks while relief filled her lungs. "Oh, you almost freaked me out Stella, I thought she is..." she purposely paused not wanting to finish the sentence. The time passed so rapidly that now even the twilight was up. The twilight stole away the colours of the day until the world looked like an old black and white movie. The vestiges of the setting sun disappearing over the horizon, the copper hues giving way to a dusty purple scattered with the occasional glitter of a faraway star in the garden before the villa. The distant skyline stood silhouetted against a velvety sky and, the golden dusk