The Firefly

3°

Assuming that I had never even put the tip of my nose into that neighbourhood, when the taxi driver dropped me off in front of a splendid mansion in Pacific Heights I was speechless from the start.

It was huge and undoubtedly very, very, expensive, but I should have known that as soon as I entered that neighbourhood.

The white walls and huge windows facing the street and the back of the house were lit up by the blinding light of that morning's sun.

The whole structure was on two floors, surrounded by lush green plants.

I went through the large gate that was already open and climbed the three modest steps to the entrance. Suddenly feeling like a pauper, I rang the bell.

An elderly gentleman in the villa opposite gave me a puzzled look, probably wondering what I was doing there.

I wondered too. The front door opened to reveal a woman in her forties.

-Hello, are you here for Mr Hale? - Her dark bob hair was impeccably combed with a parting in the middle, her blue eyes smiled along with her thin lips.

I replied with a nod and she stepped aside to let me pass.

The room we entered opened onto other rooms, with an all-glass wall overlooking the back garden, where a beautiful pool sparkled in the sun.

The lady accompanied me towards the room on the left, the living room.

As soon as I made my entrance a few heads turned in my direction, they were almost all men or women much older than me.

Time passed very slowly, but perhaps it was the effect of anxiety.

If I did not get the job, I would have to seriously think about finding a different job that I did not like.

An hour passed, then two, and all the other candidates were called before me.

When I was the only one in the room, anxiety really set in.

Even just hearing other people talk calmed me down, but now in that oppressive silence all my insecurities came to the surface.

Footsteps were heard echoing throughout the house and a man came out of the room where everyone was called to speak to Mr Hale.

It was my turn, I stood up uncertainly.

I opened the large opaque glass door and entered the room.

On a large, light leather sofa sat a young man, not yet thirty, wearing a pair of dark glasses that hid his eyes.

His dark, silky hair was neatly arranged and his rosy lips did not reveal any reassuring smile.

On the latter I immediately noticed a large scar, a sign of the past, and my mind immediately went back to Leda's words about the accident that had made him blind.

Perhaps he had gotten it at that moment.

On both lobes hung white gold pendants and he had beautiful silver rings on most of his fingers.

-Good morning.‖ The same woman who had greeted me at the entrance greeted me cheerfully, sitting at the boy's side holding many documents.

-Good morning, I'm Amber Hooper. I'm here to... -

-We know why you are here.- The boy interrupted me, his voice cold and sharp.

I tightened my lips, as the lady next door jumped at his rude words.

She placed a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder.

-Sit down, Amber.- She said softly and I took a seat on a twin couch opposite them.

-Excuse him.- She murmured imperceptibly.

-I'm blind, not deaf, Mrs. Holland.- Jake's tone was opinionated, he didn't sound like the same boy Mrs. Black described.

The woman lowered her gaze, withdrawing her hand from the boy's shoulder.

I watched him with a note of contempt, annoyed by his arrogance and conceit.

He handed over some papers that at first glance appeared to be plain white sheets, but looking closely I noticed that they were written in Braille.

He held them up so that I could see them.

-It is your curriculum vitae,‖ he informed me.

I raised an eyebrow in surprise as he began to run the index finger of his right hand over the first sheet.

His eyebrows furrowed and for the first time I noticed a smile on his lips, but it was anything but sincere.

-You're brave to show up here, brat.-I cleared my throat visibly frustrated.

-Excuse me?
-First of all, you're just a little girl.

I stared at him for a long time, trying to see if he was joking.

But his face remained unperturbed.

-I thought you were looking for an assistant, not a bodyguard. -I said between my teeth, noticing a thin smile appear on Mrs Holland's lips.

-Your CV is almost empty, you worked as an assistant secretary in a private clinic and not even two months after being hired you were fired. You are currently unemployed.- She read, running her index finger over the entire sheet of paper.

The boy snorted, smiling arrogantly as he shook his head.
-What makes you think I'll hire you?

I remained silent, trying to hold my tongue to avoid saying things I might regret later.

-So?-

-Nothing gives me the confidence to get the job. -I began after a moment's hesitation.

-But... I consider myself up to this task. I have always worked helping people and now I would like to help you.- I said and he became silent.

-And for the record: I was fired from the clinic because it had gone into crisis, not because I wasn't up to the job.‖ I said all at once and in an authoritative and serious tone.

The lady nodded, Jake tilted his head to the side, towards her.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and crossing his slender fingers.

He fiddled with his thumbs for a few seconds, then slowly slipped off his glasses.

Two blank white irises in the centre of two slightly almond-shaped eyes appeared and stared at an undefined spot behind me.

I shuddered.

The scar on his lips was not the only now-healed wound he possessed: another one, in fact, was situated close, much too close, to his left eye.

-Geraldine.- He turned his head towards the woman, but without ever really looking at her.

-Bring the contract.- Hearing his words I gasped almost falling off the sofa.

-Thank you! Oh God thank you so much, Mr Hale.- I said trying to hold back my excitement failing miserably.

The woman stood up and winked in my direction, it was a relief to know that at least she liked me.