Mystery in Red

Chapter XIX - Undercover boss

31. Mar – FP1 and FP2 in Australia

We were gradually entering the race weekend. It was Friday - the time for the two free practices. I couldn't sleep much during the night. I was too excited, constantly thinking about one person, which was driving me crazy the whole week. And no, that wasn't Charles Leclerc, nor his brother, but my boss – Frédéric Vasseur. I had to meet him today, look him in the eyes and try to not lose my temper in front of the whole team. I couldn't bear the fact that I had to be an obedient lamb. I don't know why he was so stubborn and did not allow me to work. But Charles was right for one thing – this discrimination should stop soon, or it was only going to get worse.

It took me a long night to overthink and come to an idea what to do with my boss and his "strategy ban" over me. I was not going to leave the things like that. I was going to fight, to show him I am not a random person. I am Lissa Bernardi! Young but strong enough, also independent woman, who knows how to do her job, without being edified all the time.

After three hours of sleep, I got up from my bed with the first sun rays over the horizon. But when I stood up, I inadvertently hit my knee cap against the nightstand and its drawer opened. A quiet scream slid out of my mouth, and I started rubbing the hit place while cursing the furniture. Then my attention was caught by the envelope in my drawer. I still haven't got the opportunity to read what was inside, so I forgot about the pain in my leg and focused on the envelope.

I took it out of the drawer and leaned back in the bed. Then opened the letter and started reading.

"Dear ma Petit Beauté,

I heard you have been happily married for one year. How is there? Is their Nature as beautiful as ours in Italy? Does the Prince love you and treat you well? Do you like living as a real princess? You know ma Petit Beauté, I told you many times – you are MY princess, and you will always be. Now you are for one whole world.

Well, life here has changed a lot since you left. The republic is almost falling apart. Your father kept his positions as a magistrate, and he is still on a good workplace. Your mother is well, she has been sad for you, she misses you but Cesare – he is her biggest support. He is good too actually and he is achieving a great success in his work and personal life.  After the "French Revolution", it is rumored that Napoleon has ambitions for La Serenissima, and we had to defend our country. There were also many battles against Tunis during the years, and I was there on the battlefield. That was the reason I didn't write to you earlier. Our Republic won by the way and I am unharmed. 

But I miss you, ma Petit Beauté and am thinking about you day and night. My mind was dreaming for you while I was fighting, you were my motivation to stay alive and to fight the enemy. I was hearing your voice at the lonely nights, and I am still blaming myself I wasn't there on our last meeting.

You know me well, I was held by the Doge although we were on the last day of the Carnival and we were supposed to have fun on the streets. Anyway, I don't want to bring you back in this bad day – for you... For us. I got the parts of the necklace back to me. The damn wretch Giovanni will pay hard for doing this to you.

Since you are not here anymore and probably you would never come back, I will start a new chapter from my life. I will go on a trip around the world. I heard you will have a campaign with your husband, visiting different places on the world. So, who knows, maybe someday we will find each other on one place? But I have to stay away from you and that's torturing me. And because I need to give you back the ruby necklace, I hope it is still precious for you, I will leave the gems from it on different places I have visited. Of course, I will send you letters to tell you where I was... You can visit these countries too, imagine that we have been there together, and find the part of your necklace...